Highway To Hell...

I need a vacation. It's been a long semester and I haven't been anywhere since Christmas. A few days away might do me some good. So where to go then? Sit on a beach in San diego and read under an umbrella for a couple of days? Nope. Take a flight to Vegas and sit poolside whilst sipping frozen margaritas from sunrise to sunset? Perhaps after graduation.

No... I've decided to cram myself onto a few acres of land in the desert with a hundred-thousand other people underneath a sweltering sun and listen to bands all day...

Coachella


I swore never again. I went a couple of years ago to see Oasis and Belle & Sebastian. It was way too fucking hot and I damn near melted. The memory of misery was enough to keep me away last year, but I find myself returning to Hell this year.

Why, you ask?

Top Five Reasons To Go To Coachella...

Road Trip

Junk food, Mix CD's, and My Miss on an 8 hour drive... what could be better? Must have for a road trip: a bag of Chewy Chips Ahoy and at least one stop at In-N-Out. I can't wait.

Kasabian

Can they live up to the hype of "The New Stone Roses?" I happen to think they sound a bit Kula Shaker as well, but these days, that's not something to be proud of! I am hopeful though... I am so in need of a musical saviour right now!

The Arcade Fire

I admit it. I wasn't blown away by "The Arcade Fire" on first listen. I thought the guy sounded a bit too David Byrne and thought the girl was like a mediocre Bjork. But that all changed when I saw them play a few months back. HOLY SHIT! It was like the Pulp "Mis-shapes" video where Pulp are playing and no one really cares, but by the end the crowd is going crazy. I was really blown away. They are so good live. I'm curious to see how they do on an outdoor stage in front of tens of thousands.

New Order

Geezers! They practically invented dance music and here they are going strong. I saw them almost 15 years ago at The Hollywood Bowl and thought they were old back then! It's a respect thing of course, and this will probably be the last time they tour before their "Depends" sponsored reunion tour in another 15 years.

It's Better Than Working!

TOTALLY! Like I said, I deserve a vacation. 55 hours working, 500 miles driving, going to classes, and doing homework every week... yup, I'm overdue.

I don't care if it's hot. It's gonna be nice to get away...

Anyone else going?

Girls Girls Girls!!!

I'm a sucker for a female voice... always have been. And I LOVE bands with cool chick singers! I used to be in such a group. Here, have a listen.

I'm going to get to my "Top Five List of Favorite Female Singers" in a second, but before I do, let me just get a quick "Top Five List of Female Singers I hope To God I Never Hear Ever Again" out of the way.

Here they are in no particular order... they are all hated equally:

Celine Dion
Gloria Estefan
Alanis Morrissette
Meredith Brooks
Melissa Etheridge

OK... now that that unpleasantness is out of the way... Here is my "Top Five List of FAVORITE Female Singers Of All Time..."

Olivia Newton John

This is where my whole obsession with female singers started. She was my first crush! I know she has some really hokey songs and all, but I can't help it... I am "Hopelessly Devoted!" Her slow vibrato still does it for me after all these years. I might add, that for fans of Olivia, the new Emma Bunton (aka Baby Spice) album sounds frighteningly similar to something Olivia should have recorded!

Sarah Cracknell

If Emma Peel (played by Diana Rigg, of course) had been a popstar, she would have been Sarah Cracknell. The frontwoman for Saint Etienne, Sarah is a 60's cut-out girl with sexy silky vocals and an aura of class and sophistication.

Sarah Blackwood

An angelic voice with a devlish attitude, Dubstars' Sarah Blackwood is the type who would sing you softly to sleep after a particularly nasty shag... God how I love her.

Sophie Ellis Bextor

Sophie slipped a few notches after she decided to put her career on hold and give birth instead (that's how my last band ended!), but I still adore her. An interesting voice... sometimes Deadpan Jarvis, other times Soulful Alison Moyet, but always catchy... and her videos totally rule!

Harriet Wheeler

Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays is my favorite girl singer OF ALL TIME. Period. Cute and Mousey but with the ability to belt when she wants to, I can find at least one line in every "Sunday's" song where she does something ever so subtle and completely tasteful: a little extra vibrato, a little shout, there's always something! She has her imitators (Natalie Umbriglia and that "Sixpence" girl), but to me, when it comes to the best of girl singers... "Here's Where The Story Ends."

Who's on your "tippermost toppermost" list of girl singers? Yes, I really do want to know...

It's Time To Burn This Disco Down...

I admit it... I still go to Popscene. Yes, I know I'm too old to still be going there. It's full of the 18-21 year old crowd and I feel like a Grandpa there. After all, I was frequenting the place back in 1996!

Still, Popscene gets really good bands from all over the world to play there... usually right before they blow up and start playing large venues. It's about the only reason to go there anymore. It's certainly not for the music. Where Popscene was once the place to go to hear the coolest bands you've never heard, it is now so completely predictable that the other night we were making a game of guessing which songs would be played next.

The sad part is... we were usually right!

I still have much love for Popscene. I know we can "never go home again" but I think it can still be much more than what it's become. To regain its former glory, certain songs need to be removed from the songlist.

Here is my Top Five list of songs that need to be retired from Popscene:

Franz Ferdinand: Take Me Out

"Take Me Out" and fucking shoot me if I have to hear that overplayed song one more time! Jesus Christ. I didn't really like it when I first heard it and I fucking hate it now! ENOUGH!

The Postal Service: Such Great Heights

Maybe I'm just old... maybe I don't get it. Everytime it's played, the "Under 21's" scream with glee as if they've just discovered this band like last week sometime... and then I think...well, maybe they did.

The Cure: Just Like Heaven

This was one of my favorite songs BACK IN 1987! I enjoy old Cure, but for God's sake... how about playing "The Walk" or "Let's Go To Bed" or even "Killing an Arab!" C'mon... there is more to The Cure than "Just like Heaven" and "Boy's Don't Cry." Damn it.

The Smiths: This Charming Man

The funny thing about this song is that it's not a very dance-friendly song and most people look really stupid as they dance to it! And then they get all dramatic and make that pained Morrissey face as they sing along clutching their hearts... it's really embarrassing. How about some "Headmaster Ritual" or "Boy With A Thorn In His Side," or even "Bigmouth..." PLEASE!


It's not as if New Order is a One Hit Wonder band or something, but you might believe that if you only go to Popscene. Where's "Temptation?" Where's "Perfect Kiss?" Hell, I'll even settle for "Bizarre Love Triangle" if I must! But "Please Please Please" FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, let's put Blue Monday to rest.


What songs are you fucking sick of?!

So Bad They're Good...

The year is 1983... my parents are out for the evening. I am babysitting my two sisters and I couldn't be happier... we have HBO! AND it's Friday night... and that means: Rated "R" Movies! And not just any rated "R" movies, but rated "R"- "B-Movies!!!" My youngest sister would want to watch something else, but we'd promise her that there would be "Boobies and Butts" in it and she would watch patiently and scream and laugh when flesh hit the screen!

Those were the good ol' days. I think I must have seen just about every 80's B-Movie ever... you know the genre: the "zany hi-jinx of sex-crazed teenagers looking to score." They just don't make'em like they used to. Luckily, many are still available on VHS or better yet DVD. Here are my "Top Five So Bad They're Good 80's B-Movie Classics."

The Last American Virgin

My favorite 80's movie of ALL TIME... and what a soundtrack: The Cars, The Police, Devo, REO Speedwagon, Journey, The Commodores... Holy Crap! What I love about this movie is that you think it's just gonna be another mindless teenage T&A sex romp flick (which it is), but then it filters in this real downer story that you never see coming! The film is about three friends (Gary, Rick, and David) who are always trying to score. A new girl "Karen" (played by Diane Franklin, who would later go on to play "Monique" in "Better Off Dead") comes into town and Gary immediately falls for her (it's pretty evident Gary is gay in real life- but try to suspend your disbelief!). Anyhow, the rub is Karen falls for Gary's friend Rick. It's obvious that Rick just wants to get laid, and it's driving Gary crazy. Rick ends up a real asshole when he dumps Karen after he gets her pregnant. Gary comes to the rescue, sells a bunch of his stuff to pay for her abortion, takes care of her, and it looks like he's gonna get his girl. At the end, Karen has a birthday party and Gary has bought her an engraved heart necklace. He is totally excited to give it to her. He walks into the kitchen and there is Karen... in an embrace with RICK! WHAT A BITCH!!! Gary leaves the house, drives away, and the credits roll as he cries... A SHOCKING ENDING... best 80's movie ever.

Best Line: (This takes place at school when during gym, there is a contest to see who has the biggest penis...)
David: "Everybody put in a buck. And the man who's got the biggest tool, He's the one who wins the pool."

Fast Times At Ridgemont High


Sean Penn plays comedy relief as Jeff Spicolli and takes most of the credit for this 80's classic... BUT... everybody knows the REAL scene stealer is smokin' Phoebe Cates in her legendary topless pool scene! For those of you who don't remember, Judge Reinhold is fantasizing (in the bathroom) that Phoebe is coming out of the pool walking towards him... undressing. As he fantasizes, he begins to pleasure himself. His fantasy (and ours!) ends abruptly when the real Phoebe walks in on Judge stroking it... Classic!

Best song in the film: "Somebody's Baby" by Jackson Browne.

My Favorite Line in the film:
Jefferson's Brother: "Seen the new playboy?"
Spicoli: "Good?"
Jefferson's Brother: "Bo Derek's tits!"
Spicoli: "All right!"
Jefferson's Brother: "I like sex."

I love it! Who wrote this script, anyway?!!! Here are some other good lines...

Valley Girl

For those of you not old enough to remember and appreciate the 80's, I highly recommend this film. It truly captures the feel and essence of early 80's Hollywood... reminds me of how I used to ditch school and spend the day on (then Punk Rock) Melrose Avenue (long before the Gap and Urban Outfitters opened stores there!).

The film is an 80's take on "Rebel Without a Cause" as "Punk Rocker" Randy (Nicolas Cage) falls for "Valley Girl" Julie (Deborah Foreman) much to the dismay of Julie's ex-boyfriend "Prepster" Tommy. The film features amazing lines such as "I’m totally not in love with you anymore, Tommy," and is backed by a tubular soundtrack featuring The Plimsouls (A Million Miles Away), Josie Cotton (Johnny Are You Queer, Boy), and the soundtrack standout Modern English's "I'll Melt With You."

It's a well-preserved piece of 80's nostalgia.

Best Nudie Shot: E.G. Daily going topless. WOOO!

Biggest Mistake in Film: At the end of the movie, Randy and Julie are heading for the Valley Sheraton... SUPPOSEDLY! Problem is, the limo they are in is going South on the 405 headed out of the Valley and towards Santa Monica. oops.

Up The Creek

Relatively unknown, this was definitely one of those films you'd see late night on HBO or pick up at your local "Video Library" (ooo boy- I'm dating myself with that one!) Anyhow, Tim Matheson (Otter from "Animal House") appears once again as a college frat loser "Bob" who has to compete in a river rafting race or face being kicked out of school. It has a "Revenge of The Nerds" feel to it or maybe more like "Animal House on water" as Bob and his team of misfits (along with Chuck the Wonder Dog) compete against the succesful preppie jocks. There are some great lines in the film such as “Well well well, what is this- the meetings of the assholes of America?" and “Look at my thumb-(punches the guy)- Gee You’re dumb.” It mixes sex and comedy with some pretty cool river rafting with the climactic ending of Bob's raft taking on a huge waterfall.

Best part about the movie: "Heather," Bob's love interest. She is played by none other than Jennifer Runyon whom you might remember as Cindy Brady in the heartwarming family classic "A Very Brady Christmas."

Revenge Of The Nerds

A classic tale of a group of "nerds" who are fed up with being bullied by "The Jocks..." I remember the first time I saw this. I was babysitting for a family friend, and they rented it for me to watch. I was expecting a film full of "Boobies and Butts," but was blown away when in the film Booger proclaims: "This is bullshit. I want Bush. Pan down." And the camera goes on to expose a girl COMPLETELY NUDE! Whoa... that was a big deal at the time for a teenage boy!

And not only did it show FULL FRONTAL NUDITY, but was also funny as hell. There are so many good lines in the film, I may save them for a future blog entry on the "Best Lines In Revenge of the Nerds."

In the meantime.. Here's my favorite scene (the scenario is the two main nerds (Louis & Gilbert) are talking and their crude friend "Booger" overhears):
Gilbert: I met a girl.
Louis: Gilbert…
Gibert: Her name’s Judy.
Louis: Judy’s a nice name Gilbert.
Gilbert: Yeah, she’s a nice girl.
Booger: Big deal. Did you get in her pants?
Gilbert: She’s not that kind of girl, Booger.
Booger: Why? Does she have a penis?!

I need not say more.

For more information on these and other bad movies, check out this cool site.

Oh by the way, What are your favorite bad movies?

Living In Sin...

So I have a girlfriend. We've been dating a little over a year and have "officially" been living together for almost 8 months. Marriage is inevitable. We've really only been waiting for me to finish school (35 days to go) and then land a REAL job (4 nights a week at a lame hotel bar isn't gonna cut it with her parents!)...

Anyhow, her parents have no idea that we are living together. Being from the Phillipines, their belief would be something to the extent of "it would "bring shame to the family." Luckily they live a good six hours away and never come to visit.

Despite our taboo existence, we are terribly happy. Living together is like the best thing ever! Love, laughter, and "The Sound of Music" fill our little villa. If "Living In Sin" is wrong, I don't want to be right!"

Here are my top five favorite things about living together.

Cheap Rent
To think a year ago I was paying more than I am now to live in a dusty 3 bedroom flat with messy roommates, and in an area where sirens blared at all hours and trash littered the streets. A year later I am in a peaceful, quiet, and immaculately clean cottage where birds chirp and squirrels play outside our front door.

Stuff
I've never been much of a pack rat. The nomadic lifestyle I have lived has not allowed for it. My main possessions are my CD's, a vintage 50's dining table, and some framed Audrey Hepburn movie posters. Now I have kitchen appliances, a nice stereo, and a large bed... and I didn't have to buy them!

Our Music Collection
I have lots of CD's.... I mean LOTS! So does she. For awhile we kept our collections seperate. My Britpop Museum next to her Indie Vault. Recently this changed. I knew it was getting serious a I re-alphabetized our entire collections... together. I still refuse to sell any of our doubles, but I have to say that our "Great Wall of Music" taking up the entire NW corner of our cottage is quite impressive.

Constant Companionship
I work long days. Sometimes up to 15 hours. The best part about it though, is coming home to a warm, bright house, with food and a happy dance waiting for me. We laugh and catch up on days events over an episode of Teen Titans and Vanilla Ice Cream with Magic Shell. The perfect ending to a long day.

The Comfort Factor
Living together isn't easy. Fortunately I'm a bit older now (in my 30's) and have learned from past living situations. I know what it takes to make it work. Once you get past the initial awkwardness of say, having to have a shit while she's home, you REALLY get to know a person completely, and they get to know you... to the point where you can almost finish their sentences for them. And you sit there sometimes and you realize that this person has seen your worst habits, faults, and shortcomings (like leaving the cabinets open!) and still they love you completely.

It's the best feeling ever.

Feel free to write and tell me how sickeningly sweet and in love I sound... or write about your cohabitating horror stories if you'd like... OKBYE!

Introducing The Blog!

This being my first blog entry, I suppose I ought to tell you about myself... and I suppose I would if I had an interesting tale to tell... but I don't. Or maybe I do... but I find it best to let it come out naturally...

I've always been about music. I remember back when I was a wee-lad (we're talking 25 years ago) and I'd sit in my room and listen to my "45" of "I can't Help Falling In Love With You" by Elvis Presley. I'd be lying on my back, staring up at the ceiling, and being almost reduced to tears everytime I'd play it.

25 years later, there are times when I find myself lying on my back, staring at the ceiling, and being ALMOST (boy's don't cry!) reduced to tears when I hear certain songs.

That being said, here are my Top 5 songs that kill me everytime.

Trembling Blue Stars: A Single Kiss

Ever just have an album that completely paralleled your life at a certain time in it? Well this was mine. Images of me sitting on the floor in my small Hollywood studio in the late nineties pining for "the girl that got away..."
"Tonight it's as though she was just some wonderful dream... to think she really happened to me."
That line still makes me sad.

Spearmint: Solace

So I've always been this hopeless romantic... blame it on Morrissey or something... I don't know. Spearmint released a relatively unheard album called "A Different Lifetime" that followed a relationship from beginning to end. Of course it had a sad ending (if it didn't, I probably wouldn't have liked it!). Anyhow, "Solace" is it's darkest moment with lyrics such as "Maybe one day I will wake up and you won't be the first thing that I think about" and the heart wrenching "And they say time will sweep these marks away but I say this past will stay preserved... frozen intact and perfect forever."

Just like the song.

Shed Seven: Cry For Help

Shed Seven was a band I couldn't listen to for a very long time because it evoked some really tragic memories. Now that i'm over it, they are never far from my CD player. "Cry For Help" is one of those songs that when I first heard the lyric: "Did I ever tell you that you brought me to my knees when all you did was be yourself?" I was like "Jesus Christ! This song was written about me!"

I still kinda think it was!

Blur: No Distance Left To Run

Damon and Justine... The Royal Family of Britpop. We followed their love affair like a soap. And then it was over. "No Distance Left To Run" is Damon's most painful song about having to let go of the girl he loves... and Graham had to write just about the saddest guitar line I've ever heard to go along with the lyric: "It's over... you don't need to tell me. I hope you're with someone who makes you feel safe when you sleep."

Fucking Blur.

My Life Story: I Love You like Gala (listen)

Quite possibly the saddest song I have ever heard. Found as a B-side on the out-of-print "King of Kissingdom" CD1 single, this 8-minute orchestral masterpiece follows one man's obsession with love. "I love you... and I'm scared of that love... It's TOO strong" is spoken over a bed of strings while a desperate "I love you like Gala" is sung in the background.

I've never heard another song like it.

Have you your own sad songlist? I want to know.

OKBYE!