8xd :: special desert mix edition

this is not a real 8x entry. no mp3s up for grabs, no individual song reviews peppered with inside jokes, no shameless plugs, no downloading of zips and zahs.

this playlist, generously hosted on imeem, is the desert soundtrack. no, it doesn't sound like rattlers or crickets or dust storms. its sound is what you'd generally hear in the valley's airwaves. this strays away from the hard core sounds(think smooth jazz... so smooth and slick, think a coyote hosts it, trust me, coyotes are the slickest hosts out there). you'll only find the more... errr, "familiar" tracks here.

just a word of advice, the desert mix is a lot like living in the valley: its an acquired taste. you will learn to like it because you have no choice. as long as you have a choice(honestly, who in their right mind, except those with scaly skin, would want to live in 110+ weather), you probably won't like it. but it will grown on you.

and pretty much all these songs sound best from dusk to dawn. yeah, i didn't know some songs sound better on certain parts of the day either.

the first song off the track list is the only hint a coyote is on the list. yes, thats what the hard core stuff sounds like. and it made it here because its familiar enough. but the rest are a lot like that, less the familiarity.

third song down is a desert anthem. seriously. but take note, we're not all on crack...

fifth song down is another desert anthem. apparently the desert night brings out the young one in us all.

seventh song down is one of the more popular... "in memory of" songs. yes, its cheesy.

ninth song down(and onwards) can only be heard in my room. (hey this playlist is my radio! so forgive the intrusion!) =D

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8x13 :: when did you lose your wings?

there's something to be said about misleading words. some real world examples include:
- synopsis written on the back cover of fiction books. like "a 300 year old secret, known only by our nation's leaders", but the story is actually about 3 wanna-be turncoats and the so-called secret is only mentioned in passing.
- 0g of trans fat per serving! legally, 499mg is still still 0g so eating 3 of those cookies may actually mean you just had 1497mg of trans fat. glad they're not using kg/serving. i can just imagine: "0kg fat! 0kg carbs! 0kg sugars! the perfect health food has arrived!"
- "Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome aboard the maiden flight of Hill-Force One. My name is Hillary and I am so pleased to have most of you on board. FAA regulations prohibit the use of any cell phones, Blackberries, or wireless devices that may be used to transmit a negative story about me." -playing flight attendant aboard her campaign plane. its not a sense of humor, its egotism.

the first half of the tracks below come from my most beloved series of all-time: One Tree Hill. despite being classified as teen drama, it has long proved itself to be more than just a 90210 clone. and now in its 5th season, the cast has undoubtedly grown older, lost a lot of their young-ish appeal(i'm looking at you chad michael murray), but at the same time gained a tad more mature bitch with a vulnerable heart(i <3 you sophia bush). the other appeal of OTH is they tend to feature a lot tracks in each episode, some of which are classics(when was the last time a led zeppelin song was used on tv? huh? huh?!), and most are unheard of until then.

the second half features songs with some of the loveliest titles or artist names or just plain unexpected. zipped it up!

1. Michelle Featherstone- Coffee & Cigarettes :: get me!
   "but it's true, i'm still blue, but i finally know what to do, i must quit, i must quit you"
   if you still haven't moved on over someone, this song might suit you perfectly. and no, its not a brokeback reference. i believe this was composed even before that came out. its one of the saddee songs here, so knick it if thats your thing right now.
2. Jimmy Eat World- 23 :: get me!
   "don't give away the end, the one thing that stays mine"
   and if you don't want to move one, then this is the song for you. and i have to admit, this has a special place in my heart(heck, i had a hard time choosing which line to put up). though it clocks in at a hefty 7:15, whats amazing is it doesn't seem like that long. its like thinking 12 days is long enough but actually, it just goes by in a blink. and soon enough, i'll be 23, and i'll start feeling old when i listen to the song.
3. Jack's Mannequin- The Mixed Tape :: get me!
   "this mix could burn a hole in anyone, but it was you i was thinking of"
   if you haven't made a mix tape for someone before, shame on you. you should make one, even if you don't give it to that someone you made it for. if only to make it a bottle for the feelings you have for that someone you were thinking of that you can go back to years later.
4. Hot Hot Heat- Middle of Nowhere :: get me!
   "she said, 'maybe there's a bit of me waiting for a bit of you. baby.'"
   strikes me as a wee bit cruel, but hey, that's life. there are people who just wants you to keep on chasing after them. never quite letting you catch up, never quite letting you go. and once they have you chasing, the only way to stop is if somebody else trips you and you fall over that somebody else.
5. Nada Surf- Always Love :: get me!
   "always love, even when you wanna fight"
   haha, nobility...
6. Shout Out Louds- Please Please Please :: get me!
   "it's getting darker and i know this tiem wasn't meant for us"
   please please please come back to me! people change, and sometimes, we lose them forever...
7. Feeder- Feeling A Moment :: get me!
   "don't ever feel that you're alone, i'll never let you down, i'll never leave you dry"
   its almost a feel good song. if you feel alone, then remember that you have people[to do your taxes]. you are not alone...
8. Fall Out Boy- I've Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Idea that Says You Should Shut Your Mouth :: get me!
   "joke me something awful just like kisses on the necks of bestfriends"
   i love this song, if only because it brings down the tempo of fall out boy for me. also because its a struggle against everyone else.
9. Get Up Kids- The Most Depressing Song :: get me!
   "i've smuggled myself into new nationalities, to think you'd be proud of me"
   no, not by a long shot is this the most depressing song. you can find more depressing songs from eeewi. they're just preppy kids with a saddish sounding voice and not enough sense to craft a tearjerker. but i do love the line above.
10. G. G. Allin- I Kill Everything I Fuck :: get me!
    "drenched in my fluids, you'll never know, i plant the seeds of death untold"
    gotta love the open and uncensored hate...
11. I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness- When You Go Out :: get me!
    "we don't want each other, we don't want our love"
    to a lot of people i know, this song is for all of you. and it delivers the message in a really catchy tune too, so you never really feel like being hit at. the message? well its about two friends. they both know that being a couple won't last and to save the friendship, they convince themselves that they don't like each other[on their own], and they keep repeating that mantra. were they successful? who knows, were you?
12. Daft Punk- Digital Love :: get me!
    "ooh, i don't know what to do, about this dream and you, i wish this dream comes true"
    the 3rd song in their legendary movie: Interstella 5555: the 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem. i <3 it so much i still play the movie on loop every now and then, especially on cram nights.
13. Yael Naim- New Soul :: get me!
    "but since i came here, felt the joy and the fear, finding myself making every possible mistake"
    gotta love apple and their absolute hold on pop culture. they're reeking so much influence, they're practically like the paris of the corporate world. and this song was used in their macbook air commercial. and boom, this becomes the new anthem of yuppies everywhere. and i love them because they're giving breakout artists a biting chance against mainstream ones. seriously, after feist was featured in their ad, she won most, if not all, of the "best new artist" category she was unceremoniously dropped in. never mind the fact that she's beein in the business for years.
14. Pink Nasty feat. Will Oldham- Don't Ever Change :: get me!
    "please don't shower, deodorant stains on your back"
    the first time i heard this, that was the line that stuck with me. well, the whole song feels like they were on crack. oh no wait, they were in love.
15. Intwine- Happy (String Version) :: get me!
    "fuck, i hope you feel much worse than me"
    this is one of the funnest songs ever! so he wishes her to be happy throughout the song. he wishes that she's doing well not like him. then i guess he got fed up, turns around and hope she feels much worse than him at the very last part. take that! ka-pow!
16. Iron & Wine- Boy With a Coin :: get me!
    "a boy with a coin he crammed in his jeans, then making a wish he tossed in the sea"
    there's something simple yet profound in this song. that much, i have to give it credit for. and everytime it comes on, i stop and think about it.
17. New Order- Subculture (DJ Ming Mix) :: get me!
    "a view without a room, unveils the truth so soon"
    one of those songs which i never can quite figure out for sure what's going on. but hey, i love the the line above. and you can't possibly miss it in the song.
18. Dishwalla- Counting Blue Cars :: get me!
    "tell me all your thoughts on God? 'cause i would really like to meet Her"
    this has a good chance at being a robert frost poem turned into a song. there's a simple message or meaning to it, but at the same time, you can go deeper on a personal level. and i hated robert frost for that. i respect the guy, but he made literature a pain in the...

there goes the 13th edition. i won't be posting any for awhile, i have to take care of some other stuff for a bit. that i do. in a sense i guess these picks are about moving on, and not just the romantic kind, but just moving on. like telling life you're ready for the next round, bring it on! not! these songs are for simply your listening (dis)pleasure.

-- goes well with you.

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8x12 :: come, let's paint the sky and explode in each other's arms

this entry is devoted entirely to the infinitely wonderful explosions in the sky. no, i'm not talking about fireworks of course------------>

they're songs are the most moving and understated masterpieces you'll ever have the pleasure of hearing. do your ears a favor and get your hands on their songs and listen to it full blast(preferably through a spanking good stereo set, it would be an insult to them otherwise).

there's this insanely strange throbbing that pulsates through you in every track, like the whole world is running through you.

and never mind that there are no words, its the feeling that matters. do you know what qualifies as a great song(on a personal level that is)? its that song where upon hearing it years later, it instantly makes makes you remember the things that you were doing, the things that were around you when you first heard it. whether it was in a record bar, wearing your favorite red shirt while trying to find who's wearing the scent that you love so much; or while trudging down the street [you always have to walk on everyday] in your flip-flops while worrying about having had too little sleep and the awfully big pimple on your neck. for me, thats what these guys' songs are.

though i wish my first times were as remotely grandiose as my examples, i'm ashamed to admit that all my tracks of them... i first heard in front of the computer, wearing a shirt [and picking my nose].

and for the internet-challenged, here's something to annoy you even more: its an all or nothing deal. get the entire zip, or none at all. spare me the horror and embarassment of having to put words where words are unwelcome.

Track Listing for this zip-

1. Day 1
2. Day 2
3. Day 3
4. Day 4
5. Day 5
6. Day 6
7. Day 7
8. Day 8
9. A Song for Our Fathers
10. Yasmin the Light
11. Your Hand in Mine
12. What Do You Go Home To
13. A Poor Man's Memory
14. Look into the Air
15. So Long, Lonesome
16. Memorial
17. The Birth and Death of the Day
18. The Long Spring
19. Welcome, Ghosts
20. First Breath After Coma
21. Magic Hours

support them, get their album(s) if you find one.

-- goes well with pretty much everything.

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8x11 :: i say marco, you say polo

do you know that game?

when you're trying to find your way in this world, it helps big time if you google up your destination first. for those of us who are unfortunate enough who don't know the link to Google Life, i find its best to look... errr, grope for your destination blindfolded. you don't know where you're going anyway, so might as well be completely surprised by it.

and this collection is basically that. its what i feel right now. i have no solid idea what's going to happen over the next few months, so i'm forcing myself to just get by and live it out, day by day. my only comfort is i know that no matter how harsh the world may treat us, innocence still abounds. that to the right is my feel good picture.

its only six links, work your fingers, click five more times than you would with a zip.

1. Girl Talk- Bounce That :: get me!
   "let me see you bounce that, bounce that"
   gad, i wanna live in new york, if only for the awesome indie music scene going about there. now that the unstoppable arterial pulse of life. mr. girl talk serves up well-polished remixes of popular songs. but the key difference is he uses anywhere from 10 to 50 in a 3 minute track. wow.
2. Imogen Heap- Hide and Seek(Unofficial Strings Mix) :: get me!
   "spin me around again and rub my eyes, this can't be happening"
   from The O.C. to a fan video on youtube, this song has been used around alot, most descecrated the tragic but sweet melodies. here is a "strings remix", note that the strings were used real subtly. now that is respect.
3. Augustana- Boston :: get me!
   "i think i'll start it over, where no one knows my name"
   this is quite a sad song. tells a sad tale of his special someone breaking it off and telling him she's moving away. why? because he's an a-hole. that's why.
4. Emerson Hart- Friend to a Stranger :: get me!
   "from a friend to a stranger how's your life, in your current situation? did they held you hostage, did they tell you lies? just to add to your frustration: oh... my heart."
   i love this guy! i love him so much there's another entry for him two items down. this is probably the track to nick in this list(except for tidsey, seriously). talks about how going about separate ways end up. usually ends up nasty. bah.
5. Six by Seven- Candlelight :: get me!
   "something stopped beating blood in my chest"
   hey its upbeat! enough said. (dont get me wrong, i don't have anything against "good-feeling" songs)
6. Emerson Hart- Green Hills Race for California :: get me!
   "oh my friends, what a long trip it's been"
   this song is really close to my heart. of course, a song about someone who moves away and is contemplating on how to go back to where he was from is bound to be in my playlist. and please spare me the sarcastic answers to that(like "get on a plane" or "swim the ocean" or "tell your palm 'beam me up scotty'" or "hitch a ride with santa"). what i love about this song is even though the lyrics are simplistic, the message its trying to get across is heard quite clear(or maybe its just me and my position... y'know, lying on the floor[kidding]).

its worth noting that it looks like my picks here have something to do with places and/or moving. and with the nature of my opener, here goes the disclaimer: moving is definitely not in my sights in any of the near future. trust me, i can look through alternate earths(thanks to the power of booze that is, guiness ftw!).

-- goes well with vicodin and gin.

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8x9 :: a hastily put together collage of sun shining songs

wow, i broke the through 8th issue, i'm free! haha, some changes around here, mainly i might break the 8 main songs rule. so far, i haven't really kept it, just made it look like they are 8 but there are like about 3 more songs filed under an item so that's technically like cheating. so yeah, out it goes i guess. that also means i can post 1 song editions! haha, well that's really the reason why. kinda hard to come up with material nowadays, not in any part, due to a lack of good talent, but more for the fact that i'm having a hard time getting hold of them.

another change is now there will be snippets of them songs. my fave lines i guess. =D

anyway, this compilation reflects that of those who needs a pick-me-up. well, no actually. i just threw these guys together in a playlist. hence, the picture: senseless. get all of them here.

1. Colbie Caillat- Bubbly :: get me!
   "just take your time now, holding me tight"
   this is such a feel good song. if it doesn't work for you, then i don't know what will. hearing it is like eating a pure dose of concentrated sunshining rainbow. it like... makes you feel bubbly! perfect song to wake up to!
2. Bell X1- Bad Skin Day :: get me!
   "feels like we're always waiting, feels like we're never leading"
   right, this already has a separate post here. but i so <3 this song right now so you gotta live with it. here is the original version. its a great song from an irish band who used to have damien rice on board. no irish band can make it big without being compared to U2 of course, which, i guess, is the reason why its kinda hard for irish bands to make it big. i noticed that there's an "epiphany" part in this song, like the climactic high point, like the same technique coldplay used in fix you when he let go of the light thingy. might be the reason why i find it good. but this has some of the same feel that coldplay's fix you has, only much lighter. it also sings from your heart, like the song is something you know inherently.
3. Morning Runner- Burning Bencher :: get me!
   "we're not overly good friends, but its not heaven without you"
   bam! a sad one! a dramatic sad one! note of caution, this is the type of song that grows on you with each press of the play button, specially when you let the words wash over and engulf you completely. starts out sad, ends rocking and embarassed.
4. Sheryl Crow- The First Cut is the Deepest :: get me!
   "i still want you by my side just to help me dry the tears that i've cried"
   out of the many variations and covers of this song, i like her's the best. for some reason, her voice fits it perfectly. her voice doesn't make it sound dramatic, nor emo, but its still able to convey the song perfectly. it doesn't twist any of your heartstrings, maybe your vocal chords but definitely not your heartstrings.
5. Liz Phair- Why Can't I :: get me!
   "why can't i breathe whenever i think about you"
   unlike sheryl crow's, i cant say this is not dramatic. but i love the way how she sings the chorus, like its so natural for her.
6. Jonatha Brooke- I'll Try :: get me!
   "i am not a child now i can take care of myself, i mustn't let them down now- mustn't let them see me cry"
   i dedicate this song for all you who are simply finding their you're way in this world. for all of you who feel overwhelmed, saddled by responsibilities, bit off too much than you can handle. this one's for you. keep on beliving in pixie dust.
7. Grandaddy- Jed's Other Poem(Beautiful Ground) :: get me!
   "you said i'd wake up dead drunk alon in the park, i called you a liar but how right you were"
   simple. poetic. simple. i guess when you hit rock bottom, you can only go under now.
8. A Fine Frenzy- Almost Lover :: get me!
   "goodbye my almost lover, goodbye my hopeless dream"
   haha, so easy to relate to this song. heck, its so easy to get that line stuck on your head, especially with the tune. if you do listen to it, don't say i didn't warn you! its just so dramatic! and that's what makes a keeper. and i just love the lyrics, its such a tearjerker! not to mention it also sounds like the theme song of masochists... i should know.
9. Massive Attack- Teardrop :: get me!
   "love, love is a verb, love is a doing word"
   what's the differential? time for the big LP.. Lumbar Puncture. but the blood work is negative for everything! then what are you standing around there for?! go do some more tests! and chase, go to his house, check out what pills he's popping.
10. Alicia Keys- No One :: get me!
    "when the rain is pouring down and my heart is hurtin, you will always be around this i know for certain"
    i love her. and i love the all out performance she gave last new year's eve. i love how she can radiate energy and strength. i always fall for that trick. yeah, and my other weaknesses are chocolates and chinito guys. haha! classic ad. anyway, this song of her makes me feel good. this is testament that shouting out lines, when mashed with a set interval of looping thumps, works. that and you'd have to have the name alicia keys.

gad, i'm getting older!

-- goes well with a broken heart. haha!

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8x8 :: cause google said "Your search for santa clause near north pole did not match any locations."

Merry Christmas! seems santa is really hard to find even for google. bah, maybe next year. here is not one, not two, but three editions all wrapped up in one gigantic edition. believe me, it was a pain to to trim it down to 24 entries from the 46 it started from. that means goodbye to a lot of sufjan stevens. how's your holidays so far??

and while telling your story, here's christmas playlist(get everything here):
denotes recommended, of course it being here means its already recommended but its more of more recommended.

1. Lee Ann Womack- I Hope You Dance :: get me!
   while not exactly a holiday tune, delilah, the penultimate queen of sappy love songs, played this one time for a listener despite the fact that she has already switched to the all holiday tunes format. so my wish for you this coming new year is, i hope you dance...
2. Bob Carlisle- Christmas Shoes :: get me!
   last year's holiday tune returns to us without losing its bite. seriously. i was listening to this while i was cleaning out my closet and i cried... again. i think the children's singing in this song is overkill. if you still haven't heard this one, i pity you. you owe it as a wonderful part of the human race to subject yourself to such heart-wrenching every once in a while.
3. Glen Hasnard, Marketa Irglova- Falling :: get me!
   here i am again trying to pass off a non-holiday tune as a holiday tune. well what can i say, the movie this was taken from came out on dvd this christmas. the movie, Once, is a musical. not the type where everyone just suddenly happens to dance and sing about how the hills are alive with the sound of music. nope, this is a more natural musical, the singing are done in natural settings like recording studios or while playing for alms on the sidewalk.
4. Jose Feliciano- Feliz Navidad :: get me!
   now the last three song's purpose was to loosen up your heartstrings. if it was successful, then the rest here would be easier to listen at. and what better way to start it than with feliz navidad? i wanna wish you a merry christmas from the bottom of my heart!!!!
5. Pearl Jam- Someday at Christmas :: get me!
   this is a truely classic rendition of the song. its just so wonderfully easy to listen to. and that hint of the late james-brown-disco-king really helps this song a lot. now if you're not into that, you can listen to this more modern version by the equally wonderful Mary J. Blige.
6. Damien Rice- Happy Christmas :: get me!
   here's a tune which traditionally is a quite a heartbreaker. but damien's version here isn't. its unexpectedly very light, something which you'd probably find yourself singing around a fireplace, or a campfire, or a candle.
7. Jack Johnson- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer :: get me!
   and here is a song which grew up from being a children's favorite. this sounds more like for those drunkards who are really into the holiday spirit(ie, drunk). if you're one of that, this song is perfect, sing out loud with it.
8. Feist- Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming :: get me!
   what can we expect from the awesome feist? nothing short of fantabulous of course. and for once, it doesn't have her characteristic eccentric beats. she knew tradition calls for tradition, and i respect her for that. kudos ms new artist(i hate it how they pass her off as that).
9. Dolly Parton- Hard Candy Christmas :: get me!
   country star heavyweight ms dolly parton brings us this solemnly familiar song be it the first time you've ever heard it in your life. its just so dang familiar you feel like you know the lyrics but you don't of course. anyway, this song really evokes that curl-up-in-a-chair gene, especially for those of you who's having a rough time, emotionally. its christmas, this is your song. you'll be fine.
10. Linda Ronstadt- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas :: get me!
    a not so sad treatment of the song. this has to be one of the trickiest holiday songs to sing. how do you sing it without making people sad? ms linda did it pretty good. and yeah, her voice is quite awesome.
11. Aimee Mann- I'll Be Home for Christmas :: get me!
    in my arrogant opinion, this is a lot better than josh groban's version. for some reason, i've grown an intense disliking for that guy. i don't know, seems i'm just annoyed with his voice. this song, on the other hand, is unlike josh's... its got soul. its got that homy, welcoming feeling which is what christmas is all about.
12. Melissa McClelland- O Holy Night :: get me!
    this is a really good rendition. i love their voices. i simply cant describe enough how much i likes it. all i know is i love it and its hypnotic. its like their voices have hands and they pierce right through your heart and massage it. weirdo.
13. Medieval Baebes- The Holly & The Ivy :: get me!
    perhaps the only song which has a little bit of celtic twang in it. and its kinda weird especially since i love celtic music. unlike the one before, its not hypnotic, its downright leprechaunic.
14. Jason Mraz- Winter Wonderland :: get me!
    there are days when i like sir jason, there are days when i wanna throw up all over him. but in the wonderful spirit of christmas, i like him today. here is his version of winter wonderland, featuring his trademark "rapping" wordplay.
15. Leigh Nash- The First Noel :: get me!
    ms nash's voice is angelic. its a very traditional version, and for her, it works! what's more is she sounds natural in it, not like she's trying hard to make it work. and thats what christmas is, hanging up your masks being yourself around families and friends. so to everyone, me loves you all!!
16. Rob Thomas- A New York Christmas :: get me!
    so you have to clean up after your guests left huh? well put this right in and put your stereo in max. sing with it, dance with it, makes your chores go like a breeze. come on now, get on your feet and moooooove.
17. The Go! Team- The Ice Storm :: get me!
    after moving around, you may wanna sit down for a bit and think what you're gonna do next. may this track's simple tune clear your head and make you think anything's possible. i wanna go to mars.
18. Sufjan Stevens- Angels We Have Heard on High :: get me!
    i don't like him at all. the only reason he made it here is cause a) the track is only 45 seconds long; and b) he doesn't sing. and cause of that, this song is quite happy, not the usual gloomy ones songs turn into when touched by him.
19. Rascal Flatts- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen :: get me!
    i love this song. i don't know why but i just do. probably because its real easy to sing along with it. no matter how bad your voice may be or how off-key you can get. now if you don't like the merry treatment those rascals did, then try this jazzy one from barenaked ladies.
20. Jimmy Eat World- 12/23/95 :: get me!
    yeah, odd choice for a title ya? well, story behind the song is... well there's no story. its only got like two lines in it repeated over and over. and that's what's pretty awesome with the song, you can make it out to mean anything you want. about leaving someone, leaving for work, leaving this world... its about anything personal for someone dear to you.
21. Something Corporate- Forget December :: get me!
    i'd recommend this song to anyone who's trying their best to climb out of a whole. like getting over someone, saying no to something... things like that. this doesn't tell you everything's going to be all right. its telling you yeah it sucks but i'll find a way to get through this.
22. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone- Cold White Christmas :: get me!
    this is my song.
23. Matt Wertz- What Child is This :: get me!
    before the list ends, here is another traditional one for you, make you remember its Christmas we are celebrating. keep Christ in Christmas, will ya?
24. Bishop Allen- Calendar :: get me!
    well, the last in the list. and since its the end of the year, lets burn calendar, burn. have a wonderful year ahead, its a new start, make the most out of it. years go by quickly, don't waste it, reinvent yourself, try something new, but most of all, take chances and i hope you dance.

i must be such a loser since i'm writing this on christmas day. on the contrary, i actually... well, i am a loser. a sick loser at that. i've been sick since the weekend and i've been popping pills every two hours or so just to keep the energy level up and keep the fever from rising. advil is my bestest friend. seems my tonsils missed me after a year of absence. i sure hope my stomach doesn't bleed with the overdose on ibuprofens i'm currently in. don't got amoxcicillins cause i'm deathly afraid of getting a prescription from a doctor.

personal rant aside, well i hope this tunes keep you company for the rest of the season, though its late i know. but hey, its still christmas here right now while i'm still writing it.

-- put in a cd, get a thick blanket, a mug of hot chocolate, play, curl up in your favorite chair. Merry Christmas.

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8x7 :: life's a bitch

got slammed this past few weeks. trying to hold on to youthful sensibilities is hard when the world itself is pushing you to change. therein lies the internal battle. that's what many young men lost their lives for with. sadly, the world always wins to some degree. you can never outwit, outsmart, outplay and outlast the world. at the end of the day, you only reach some sort of compromise, and settle. survivor? ha-ha. its a joke. its like playing deal or no deal. no matter which briefcase you pick, death will be in it. the trick is pushing the "banker" to give you a high enough settlement. life is merciless. death is its reward to those who stick to their guts and go all the way. and to everyone else who saw the battle, the foolish young man will always be remembered as... foolish.

so here are some tracks from bitchin' awesome ladies.

1. Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse- Valerie :: get me!
   don't let the artist tag fool you, this is all winehouse. this song is originally from The Zutons. ms. winehouse came in, did her magic, and poof! another hit. she's amazing. i'm all ga-ga over her. and yeah, today's news say she got busted for marijuana possession. woohoo, go rehab girl!
2. KT Tunstall- Other Side of the World :: get me!
   this one sounds so familiar but i can't quite put my finger on it. it must have been used in an ad somewhere. anyways, ms. tunstall here is also the womyn behind the black horse and the cherry tree. if cat power or feist had gone country, this is probably how she'd sound like.
3. Sheryl Crow- Sweet Child O' Mine :: get me!
   speaking of country, sheryl crow is a lady who's just brimming with confidence. there's something about her aura(and songs, or maybe just how she sings) that just says i'm a womyn, i'm proud of it, and i'm kicking your ass. more tracks include a strong enough picture.
4. Reba McEntire with Kelly Clarkson- Because of You :: get me!
   omg, i LOVE reba! especially her tv sitcom. she's got this awesome look in her eyes which emanates some form of her motherly love. couple that up with her witty tongue, you've got a deadly combo which no young one can ever possibly get away from. even justin t was smitten by her. story goes he's always wanted to write a song for her and when he found out she was doing a duets album, he barged in and almost forced her to listen to him.
5. The Cranberries- Linger :: get me!
   there's a confusing identity crisis raging within the cranberries. are they rock or pop? emo or balladeers? grape or cherry? but one thing stands clear, her voice is distinct. you'd know immediately it was them. add to that their unique, confused sound, their sound is truly one of a kind. and if you don't want to linger, maybe a zombie will come close to you. and if you don't like their zombie, then this zombie will almost certainly not change that.
6. Zero 7- Destiny(acoustic) :: get me!
   the music video for this is still one of the best out there. but the acoustic version here showcases the power of her voice... and it almost borders on being emo. the svelte guitar work rocks your ribcage, while her voice is the sword which repeatedly slice the heart. and on the other hand, in the waiting line, is a penny.
7. India Arie feat. Akon- I Am Not My Hair :: get me!
   well, i just like the title of this song. ~ang gandaaaaaa, ng buhok kooooooo~ that aside, the song is ok, not half-bad, not half-good. the sort which feels like there's a missing piece which the big O has yet to talk to. on the other hand is a sad, sad heart, ready for love.
8. Samantha James- Rise :: get me!
   here's a song that comes across as a womyn dancing alone, but she's definitely enjoying it alone. the picture of independence and i-don't-need-you-i-can-make-it-on-my-own-and-if-i'm-with-you-right-now-its-cause-you-just-happened-to-be-here-and-i-can-definitely-leave-you type of gals. yeah, i'm dashing-with-dashes. but whether people rise or not, the beats here are enough to make me stand up for her and pay homage.

guys, respect your ladies.

-- put in a mix cd and give to your girlfriend(s)

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8x6 :: mayan chocolate is h-o-t hot!

there's this gelato place somewhere in the southern part of the phoenix metro which i absolutely love. whenever i'm in the vicinity, i make it a point to drop by and try something new. i remember sampling the mayan chocolate flavor, and i told the guy behind the counter that it was too sweet for me. he gave me an odd, surprised look and steered me to their sugar-free selections. it was only a lot later when i was asking him how kahlua chocolate compares to their mayan chocolate in terms of sweetness that he told me mayan chocolate was spicy... and all of a sudden there was "chili blossom" in my tongue and i realized that what i originally thought as shockingly sweet was actually mildly spicy. its amazing how our mind can make a thing be something else. in my case, i wasn't expecting spicy or hot in an ice cream, so my mind filed it under sweeeeeeeeeeet. and for the record, they had another flavor which was even spicier.. i forgot what's it called though.

so this edition comes to you as a warning, don't let first impressions fool you. and these songs might turn you off at first either because you don't like how it sounds or you don't like the artist or you think the title is crap. listen to it, give it time to grow on you, if it doesn't... well, crap.

1. Michelle Tumes- Lovely (remix) :: get me!
   my brother was the one who stumbled across this song from youtube. watch the video here, its a fan video for one tree hill, though he's not a fan nor has he actually watched even just a single episode. so the video alone sold me to this song. unfortunately i can't find the exact remix that she used, even tried messaging her for it. and no, its not the original here either. and for the clueless, its actually a gospel song... on a completely unrelated note, i found this really, really funny video(if you're only going to click on one thing in this page, click this), its even funnier than this one and a little more funnier than this, in the related videos section for that one, thanks youtube!
2. Maria Taylor- A Good Start :: get me!
   her deep voice is oddly soothing and not creepy. though yeah, i sure wish i got a better version of this but its passable, maybe because of her deep voice? anyways, here's another one, though its a lot sadder... but there's just this weird feeling of her songs not being complete.
3. Owen- Bad News :: get me!
   there's an elton-john-turns-hopeless-romantic air in this song. also has one of the best uses of low-key guitar strumming(or whatever that's called)-- in modern times. and yeah, i love hyphens-- and its not going to die anytime soon for me, unlike the bad news mr webster brought-
4. Ryan Adams- I Taught Myself How to Grow Old :: get me!
   for all you who feel you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders, or those who think you're living in a mental institute surrounded by immature freaks, or those who life just reated unfairly- this is your song. and be warned that it is a sad song. its got that nasty effect of giving you that feeling of having cried for an hour-- and that's just in the first 20 seconds of the song and without the tears. frontal lobe headache abounds. and his cover of wonderwall is almost as sad, but not quite.
5. Snow Patrol feat. Martha Wainwright- Set the Fire to the Third Bar :: get me!
   collaborations/duets are always fine in my book. and this one is awesome. it compliments both artists strengths while making it sure it doesn't fall apart. though the result is something which you'll either like or not(no in between), its still refreshing to hear challenging tracks like this. as for snow patrol, one qualm i have with their Eyes Open album is it seems that their song Hands Open pretty much sums up the beat of the album. all the songs are nice but- everything feels so damn close to that song.
6. Sufjan Stevens- That was the Worst Christmas Ever :: get me!
   if you listened hard to Hands Open, you would've heard their reference to the undisputed king of indie- Sufjan Stevens. i personally don't like him that much but for some reason, yuppies zooming around in beavers say so. and in case you share my (dis)taste, here's two more: The Avalanche and The Man of Metropolis Steals our Hearts- the latter is the only one which i like, but just a tad.
7. Coldplay- Swallowed in the Sea :: get me!
   from the guys who throw really awesome light shows in their concerts, here's a track which is uplifting. and that's a big surprise when you consider the fact that most of their songs are tragically sad-- you can call this one a happy tragedy. i guess the rainbow sun really does shine for everyone.
8. Bishop Allen- Rain :: get me!
   genuinely hope-filled happiness-- that's the one word that can describe this song. there's just this golden sunshine that emanates from this song, its infectious! and i can relate to this song on so many levels- like i do know that in my life, i have to stumble, fall flat on my face before i can rise and fly. and if you can't relate, well here's the (gasp!) lyrics:
   
   bed clothes, why am i in bed clothes?
   watching out the window
   watching what i don't know
   on the fire escape now
   hands they start to shake now
   ready for the rail to break now
   and i'm awake at last awake
   
   cursing, rattling and cursing
   go ahead and do your worst then
   your worst that i can take
   
   oh let the rain fall down
   and wash this world away
   oh let the sky be grey
   cause if its ever gonna get any better
   its gotta get worse for a day
   
   morning, where am i this morning?
   now its really pouring,
   crawling up this shore
   and i walk the neighborhood
   and umbrella does no good
   and i guess its in my blood
   couldn't stop the flood
   
   drowning, everything is drowning
   go ahead and take the town
   the town is yours to take
   
   oh let the rain fall down
   and wash this world away
   oh let the sky be grey
   cause if its ever gonna get any better
   its gotta get worse for a day
   
   calling, calling, falling, falling
   grab on my guitar
   and paddle with both my arms
   headed where the voices are
   i'll end up far so far away
   
   oh let the rain fall down
   and wash this world away
   or let the sky be grey
   cause if its ever gonna get any better
   its gotta get worse for a day
   
   its gotta get worse for a day
   its gotta get worse for a day
   its gotta get worse for a day
   i know
   its gotta get worse for a day

listen to them in order, if you don't, you're going to end up sad for the next 7 years.

-- goes well with a nice long walk with your mp3 player of choice.

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8x5 :: the ununderstood will always be mysteriously liked

there's always something about songs which you can't understand. i mean really can't understand, not unless you know all the languages in the world, in which case i pity you cause you're missing out on the thrill of helplessly being ridiculed and insulted in front of you. so this really late edition is for you people who love not knowing what a song is about. and yes, you won't find much asian influence here, if you're into that, move along...

1. O-Zone- Dragostea Din Tei :: get me!
   what? you don't know this?!?! you should know this you know... its like not knowing who abe vigoda is. ok, that was lame...
2. Sergio Mendes feat. Stevie Wonder- Berimbau :: get me!
   its by the great Sergio Mendes. that doesn't need explaining. its interesting to note though that he doesn't actually sing. he's like santa clause in that santa doesn't make the actual toys, santa just delivers it. in his case, he doesn't sing it, but he pretty much wrote the entire song.
3. Josh Groban feat. Joshua Bell- Mi Mancheria :: get me!
   i'm not exactly a josh groban fan, yes he can sing but somehow its hard to make a name when you're in the shadow of established heavyweights like pavarotti(no pun intended, the guy is dead, i wouldn't want to disrespect the dead). so for me he's this jack of all trades, master of none type of guy. and this song proves that. its ok, but... i wouldn't say i'm absolutely raving about it.
4. Renato Vargas- Travessia :: get me!
   unlike sergio mendes, renato vargas sings. he's great, but sergio is just plain better and a lot more popular. renato is a little bit more traditional... he sits in the gray area of world music. while being filed under world does bring fame, it also brings with it the common misconception that only 50 year olds and up should listen to him.
5. Xavier Naidoo- Was Wir Alleine Nicht Schaffen :: get me!
   i really have no idea what this is about but singing along with it... its quite liberating. the words are really "crrrrrrrispilicous". but on a meaner note, this scene comes to mind whenever i hear this song.
6. Claudette Soares- Parte de Seu Mundo :: get me!
   there's something soothing with hearing disney classics belted out by bossa nova artists. its like a statement to the world that mickey mouse had a direct hand in forming me as a person. uhhh, yeah, no wonder the world is going to the dogs... or in this case pluto. oh and in case you haven't heard, pluto is no longer a planet... sad, but that's the circle of life...
7. Zucchero feat. Miles Davis- Dune Mosse :: get me!
   i stumbled across this lovely song through musicovery.com. Zucchero "sugar" Fornaciari is an italian superstar, and that is an understatement. he's like a cross between sergio and renato, only he's not in the industry as old as them(he made it in the 90's), though he's definitely not young. there's something familiar in his songs, like there's a feeling of deja vu when you hear them. and he's definitely not afraid of collaborating with other superstars, like with the fabulous country superstar Sheryl Crow here or the fantastically polarizing Macy Gray(either you like her or you don't).
8. Tinariwen- Matadjem Yinmaxen :: get me!
   Tinariwen is a music clan comprised of former freedom fighters from Mali. they are revered as real rebels in the music industry, not just rebels without a cause, and they almost always talk about their past. if you're not into real life emo, then maybe another sung-in-french song about love is what floats your boat. both of them maybe in french but they are both filed under world, so don't expect it to sound like larusso. thanks to suckapants for being a constant source of "enlightenment"-- from an anonymous fan.

and there you go, something for those who are tired of being on top of things/able to understand everything. being in the unknown, now that's an adventure.

-- goes well with a mug of hot chocolate

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8x4 :: in memoriam

because some things need to be remembered. this *late* edition may be considered a playlist for an intimate memorial concert; something put together by your community social butterflies for a good cause(for a change). not exactly to make you feel better, neither does it attempt to put you down. it aims to tap at you inner humanity, let you remember that you got a heart underneath everything, and that in the end, that's what's important anyway. let some things never be forgotten.

1. Explosions in the Sky- Yasmin the Light :: get me!
   any track from these guys could easily be considered as a potential candidate for this playlist, so no surprise here. be prepared to get hooled from the slow start, to the awesome high, and down to the middle. its an invitation, you know?
2. Jamie Cullum- In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning :: get me!
   a lone trumpet belching out a slow melodic tune- this screams 'respect' louder than an airplane taking off. thankfully, that's just the start... though admittedly the cool vocals which follow doesn't help that much either. but it does help if you're an alcoholic- makes you want to go pop open a bottle of wine.
3. Moby- Temptation :: get me!
   "up, down, turn around/please don't let me hit the ground/tonight i think i'll walk alone/find myself as i go home" now doesn't this tug at your heartstrings? do reach out will ya?
4. Isablle- Flying Away :: get me!
   i don't exactly know how i found isabelle, what i do know is her voice is a little like barbie's... that said, don't hold that against her. she does belt out songs which are more appropriate for her sound. she's got that coffee house/bookstore jammer appeal to her, complete with a long skirt and a guitar.
5. Hootie & the Blowfish- Time :: get me!
   amongst all the songs here, this one is the easiest for me to visualize. whenever i hear this, i come up with a riverside stage platform, those portable ones made out of steel which can be assembled and dismantled overnight, dusk, there's still light but all the lights are on anyways, and the crowd's not really doing anything, just standing there, trying to be there.
6. Verve Pipe- The Freshman :: get me!
   this is an awesome song. too bad they were a little bit of a one-hit wonder. still, the chorus does get to me every now and then...
7. Think About Cosmos- Miss You So :: get me!
   the reason this is here is simple, it doesn't leave you heartbroken or downtrodden. it makes you feel like its possible to be sad while ploughing through the fast-paced intricacies of day to day life. a break is alright, but if you can't that'll work too. and here are more fast-paced versions: one, two, next!
8. Puff Daddy & Faith feat. 112- I'll be Missing You :: get me!
   indeed, in the end, everybody's bound to miss somebody...

i'm actually a little dazed right now, so yeah, i'm quite aware that this didn't really make much sense.

--- goes well with a heaping serving of sleeping pills.

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