One Foot Off The Platform.

Coca-Cola Kids.

2006-08-12T23:38:00.000+08:00

Or otherwise known as Kent.

First heard of them two weeks ago, when I received "Romeo Återvänder Ensam" (many thanks to Sul!). And I've been bloody hooked since. This quintet from Sweden, are one of the finest purveyors of 'anthemic indie rock', and better if you like your music laced with Scandanavian influence.

Unfortunately, unlike the other major Swedish export, these guys are still not as popular as affordable furniture. RCA picked up their LP 'Isolde', for distribution in the U.S. in 1998, but it wasn't terribly successful (althought they are pretty big in Sweden and much of Europe).

Anyways, touted the biggest rock band in Sweden, Kent really delivers on the musical front (although to have Andy Warhol playing for you does help. Heh). Soaring guitar/vocals laced with melancholy. For fans of The Cure (of old) and Pulp.

Highly Recommended:
Kent - 747
Kent - Lifesavers
Kent - Parlor
Kent - FF
Kent - Den döda vinkeln
Kent - Rosor & Palmblad

"Two girls are too many; three's a crowd and four- you're dead!" - The Kinks

Miss B-

2006-08-05T22:40:00.000+08:00

I'm infatuated.

Right. Kite Flying Society is on heavy rotation the past couple of days; and has been the only thing I've been listening to today. Hailing from San Diego California, this band makes the most sickeningly-sweet (read: super fantastic) indie pop out there, that could fit into your typical Wes Anderson film. Not surprisingly, KFS lists him as one of their influences, along with

The Kinks
The Shins
Harry Nillson's "The Point"
Magnetic Fields
Brian Wilson
Fruit Bats
Rogue Wave

For fans of PAS/CAL (and kites). Listen to them, and you're reminded of The Beach Boys and Herman's Hermits. And KFS has this uncanny ability to make you feel loved, regardless of your maritial status. Bliss Pop anyone?

KFS has been mentioned a couple of times on the big blogs, but surprisingly, the indie blogosphere hasn't jumped on the bandwagon yet (yes not even Pitchfork). Unbelieveable. Their new album, Where is The Glow? dropped on the 28th July, and unfortunately is only available in San Diego. Or here via Paypal.

All highly recommended:
Kite Flying Society - "Love and Seagulls"
Kite Flying Society - "If I Could Split"
Kite Flying Society - "6000 Shipwrecks"

In other news:
Strokes' Hammond Goes Solo
Johnny Marr Officially Joins Modest Mouse

"Oh There They Go"

"I am Jack's Complete Lack of Surprise."

2006-07-30T23:52:00.000+08:00

Why am I always so distracted? Really, it's getting to me.

Surfing BBC.co.uk in class, watching Dave Chapelle when I'm supposed to work on my illustrations, and watching Fight Club when I'm supposed to be sleeping. Oh, and blogging when I'm supposed to be working on my Advertising project. Ugh.

I really need a girlfriend. To distract me further.

Anyways, here's (The) Cazals. I love this band. Unpretentious, they just refuse to precede their name with 'The', and they keep calling their music "Dandy Rock". What is that you say? Exactly. GQ coins it "streetfighting rock-and-roll". And London-based frontman, Phil Cazal makes cameos for Dior Homme on the catwalk in his free time. Martin Cazal used to work at Topman as a style advisor.

You'll never catch this band without their leather loafers, fedoras and guitars. Think GQ-meets-Brit-Mod. I'm so envious.

And it helps that they write brilliant songs also. Here's what they think about themselves: (Cazals) are on a mission to produce music that’s as timeless as it is honest. Listen to the band just once, you'll probably be convinced that you'd have wanted to hear this all your life. And yes, they threw those illegal 'Cazalaide' parties to buy new instruments, when Babyshambles fans thrashed their previous kit.

Meet your new heroes.

Cazals - "Beat Me To The Bone" (highly recommended)
Cazals - "Bounder & A Cad"
Cazals - "What of The Future" (Demo)
Cazals - "My Ex-Valentine" (Demo)
Cazals - "Poor Innocent Boys" (also highly recommended)
Cazals - "Comfortable Silence" (Demo)
Cazals - "New Boy In Town" (Demo)

They just put up free mp3s of their recent XFM session up on their site. Do check it out.

"Did anyone tell you we're a fashion band? Well, we're not. Fucking fashion." - Luca Cazal

Poor, Poor Innocent Boys.

2006-07-26T20:38:00.000+08:00

Deadlines looming. Sports Day looming. Heh, school's lovely innit?

And now I know how being pregnant feels like; after a dinner of kebabs and curry. Really, I can't sit up straight. Though the curry was lovely alright.

Okay, I apologise in the delay since the last post; have been so terribly busy. Anyways, here's today's featured band- Ratatat.

I read about them on fluo kids the other day, and (to be honest here) I only downloaded the tracks because his post featured a terribly cute girl. But hold the brickbats though, what's a boy to do when you see free tracks and a pretty girl and French? There you go.

Anyways, any band who's gonna name their new album "Classics", had better be worth the iPod space. The shivs aren't out yet, but so far, it sounds pretty good, from the tracks I've heard. Genre-hopping electronica. From sounding RJD2-ish on "Loud Pipes", to going all Beatles-esque on "Tropicana", they seem intent on making everyone buy their album.

MarathonPacks says: their M.O. of combining heavily effected rock guitars with breakbeats made them seem on one hand like playful ironists---the musical equivalent of a Chuck Norris or Styx t-shirt.

But Ratatat has matured since, and they're not Chuck anymore. They've certainly tackled more genres on this time out, and the result? Classics.

Hitting the stores on 22 August, so watch out for that.

Highly Recommended:
Ratatat - Loud Pipes (from fluo kids)
Ratatat - Wildcat (from fluo kids)
Ratatat - Tropicana

Oh, and here's a Cazals track that's on heavy rotation.
Cazals - Poor Innocent Boys (Super-duperly highly recommended)

Will probably return with Cazals tomorrow. By the way, The Libertines are thinking of getting back together. Didn't you know that already?

Toodles!

Specials: "You're Not Reagan, and I'm Not Gorbachev. So Don't Try Eh."

2006-07-21T01:30:00.000+08:00

The past couple of days haven't been terribly good, but this probably makes up for it. Was up all night, yesterday watching Serge Gainsbourg's old videos, and I must say, in a time when The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson were all the rage on the radio, Gainsbourg's music was a breath of slick, sexy, modern fresh air. Well, not really fresh air, he would have probably smelt of alcohol and Gitanes cigarettes. Heh. A modern-day rennaissance man.

Enjoy the videos.

"Ballade de Melody Nelson"
One of my favourite Gainsbourg songs of all time. One of the cheesiest videos of all time. But still timelessly alluring. A duet with his muse/partner Jane Birkin.

"Comic Strip"
One of the less melancholic, and more upbeat songs of his repertoire, this was a video from his ye-ye pop period. A duet with this one-time girlfriend, Brigitte Bardot.

"L'Hôtel Particulier"
One of his most brilliant songs. Off the 1971 concept album Histoire de Melody Nelson.

"Lola Rastaquouere"
His dalliance with reggae. He once (reportedly) riled Bob Marley by asking his wife, Rita Marley to sing erotic lyrics with him.

"Lemon Incest"
A duet with his daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg in 1984. Appearing shirt-less, with Charlotte (on a bed, no less), then 14, caused a sizeble uproar in Europe. But this song, as with the album, "Love On The Beat", was written by him as a gift to his daughter. One of the more brilliant songs off the album if you'd ask me; mystical, seductive and intoxicating.

This was his now-infamous appearance on the Michael Drücker show. Serge, not exactly a person to hide his feelings, tells a young Whitney Houston that he'd like to fuck her. On live national television. Heh. He was probably drunk alright.

I'm so gonna slot this in my daily conversations; "You're Not Reagan, and I'm Not Gorbachev. So Don't Try Eh."

All highly recommended:
Serge Gainsbourg - Sea, Sex and Sun
Serge Gainsbourg - Bonnie and Clyde
Serge Gainsbourg - L'Hotel particulier
Serge Gainsbourg - Aux armes etceatera
Charlotte & Serge Gainsbourg - Charlotte Forever
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Songs (off her new album 5:55)
Franz Ferdinand and Jane Birkin - A Song For Sorry Angel (a cover version, off the Gainsbourg tribute album, Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited)

Betcha didn't know that Jane B. was the inspiration behind Hermè's highly popular Birkin bag, eh Posh?

Au Revoir.

But Neither of Them Knew, Really.

2006-07-17T13:37:00.000+08:00

Because I'm so clever/But clever ain't wise

Was at HMV the other day, and true to form, I left with a purchase. Picked up Carl Barât's Dirty Pretty Things, while my brother bought the new Keane and The Beautiful South LPs. Not exactly my cup of tea, those two bands; never liked Keane's music. They seem to have a sort of contrived pretence about them, eh? But that's just my opinion anyways. And The Beautiful South? You're better off with the new Camera Obscura album, Let's Get Out of This Country (in stock at HMV Singapore).

Alright, what about Dirty Pretty Things? Think Shakespeare-meets Pulp and Morrissey. Not exactly the record I would expect from this ex-Libertine, but it's surprisingly good. None of the tracks particularly stand out, as DPT comes out firing. Acerbic one-liners, ambitious, angsty, yet refreshingly sprightly. This LP, Waterloo to Anywhere, Barât takes his half of the Libertines sound, and turns it into a sterling record. The kind of music that makes you wanna kick up a clump of dirt, and still feel pleased with yourself. And though nothing on Waterloo can stand up against Babyshambles' "Fuck Forever", Waterloo delivers consistently, while there were glaring blemishes on Pete Doherty's record, Down in Albion.

Down In Albion, on the other hand, is the direct mirror of Up The Bracket. Like certain things in life, you either love it or hate it. Pitchfork gave Albion a 7.7, while I have read one-star reviews elsewhere. Shambolic, disparaging vocals, and the occasional off-key indulgence makes Albion a love-hate affair. Albion starts strongly with "Fuck Forever" (the second song on the album), only to fall flat on it's face with the later tracks, which seemed like poor attempts to scale the same heights of FF. There is some hope for Babyshambles' fans though, some of the more upbeat tracks ("The 32 of December", "Killamangiro") are reminiscent of The Sex Pistols and The Clash. All in all, Down in Albion offers glimpses of Pete Doherty's immense vision in small doses and spurts. Albion is a broke and busted record. Totally sloppy, rocked out in total drunkeness, and utterly exasperating to listen to. However, it reeks of honesty and I find it extremely hard to put down.

In short, go buy both records. Waterloo to Anywhere is the perfect complement to Down In Albion. Carl Barât's wit and intelligence against Pete Doherty's drunken poetry. Clean, smart Shakespearean prose against a total mess of an album. The Libertines. What a shame.

Dirty Pretty Things - "Gin and Milk"
Dirty Pretty Things - "You Fucking Love It"
Dirty Pretty Things - "Bang Bang You're Dead"

Babyshambles - "Fuck Forever"

Bonus:
Morrissey - "Let Me Kiss You"
The Libertines - "You're My Waterloo"
*edit* Franz Ferdinand - "Eleanor Put Your Boots On" (Re-Worked Version)(Yes, the one with the banjo.)

Oh, here's something I read at BBC Sport recently on the Zidane saga. Jacques Segeula of advertising group Havas: "This (headbutting incident) isn't going to harm him. This childish gesture gives a more human image of the hero. It brings the icon closer to the people." Since when did violence endear icons to the masses? Tsk tsk.

"- If you don't mind."

"And Yes, This Is My Singing Voice."

2006-07-11T22:53:00.000+08:00

And no, you don't want to hear it. I'm a terrible singer.

I've had a surprisingly good past-couple-of-days, despite the bloody Sword of (Art School) Damocles hanging over my head. And it's not the 'happy juice' talking. Heh.

There are a host of reasons for that, but it's mostly thanks to Materazzi, and that The Velvet Teen and The Posies are dropping by at Baybeats 2006. And yes, I'm also pretty psyched about my Photoshop project (inset).

It's gonna be aptly named "Room 44", and it's not for kids. It's a visual essay delving into the dreams, fantasy, the imagination of all that takes place behind closed doors. And lecturers, I'm not gonna change it.

Heh. Alright, stop thinking about bordellos for a second here.

The Posies and The Velvet Teen are slated to perform at Singapore's premier (and probably only notable) Indie/Alternative festival, Baybeats. I would have to say though, I am pretty suprised at the headliners. They finally got some good acts in. And I have to say, The Velvet Teen are really good.

Fans of Bands of Horses, dig in.

The new Velvet release will drop on the 25th of this month. Aptly called Cum Laude.

Baybeats '06 be taking place this weekend o'er at The Esplanade, Singapore.

The Posies - "I May Hate You Sometimes"
The Posies - "Feel"
The Posies - "I Am The Cosmos"

The Velvet Teen - "GymzKid"
The Velvet Teen "Everything Is In It's Right Place"
The Velvet Teen - "False Profits"
The Velvet Teen - "Naked Girl"
The Velvet Teen - "Radiapathy Girl"

Alright, I gotta go now. Will try to post some Spoon tomorrow. If I'm not killed by Art School already.

Au Revoir. Emmanuelle.

"The Boy In Green. Would You Please Shut Up?"

2006-07-07T23:18:00.000+08:00

Don't call me boring, it's just 'cause I like you.

Alright, this is the first post in quite a bit, and I sincerely apologise for that. Have been trying to rush projects before the looming deadlines, and it has pretty much taken it's toll on me. I hate Thursdays.

Shledule has been absolutely tight, and lecturers have been hell. On Tuesdays, I get a feminine male lecturer who is uptight on just about anything, everything. On Wednesday, I get a female lecturer bordering on racist, and rather incidently, hates me. Well, not because of my skin colour, if that's what you're thinking. It's because I keep talking in her class. Usually I get away with these things, but on one unfortunate Wednesday, she paused about 4-5 times in a 2-hour lecture to reprimand me.

Okay, here's why I was flavour du jour on that day. Firstly, I was wearing green, in a room chock full of black and whites. Secondly, I was wearing my 'professor' spectacles (as my mum likes to call it) on that day. And thirdly, I was the only other person awake/not distracted with the lecture. So, you can probably equate this; a lecture presentation, littered with spelling errors, grammatical errors, and extreme-right wing views, and me paying attention, probably equates trouble. There wasn't a thing she said, that I couldn't laugh at. And my various jibes at the lecturer (to Sufian, who was sitting next to me), could be heard throughout the room, as everyone was bored into submission/slumberland. So she could hear every smart remark I said. Well, it's not my fault, I was only paying attention.

"The boy in green. Why are you laughing?"
"Your lecture is hilarious."
"No it isn't. If it were funny I would have laughed. Now keep quiet."

Well, lady. No good comedians laugh at their own jokes. But her rebuttal was a source of considerable mirth. Her lecture was funny alright. Not that she intended it with the spelling errors and all. And on Thursdays, I have a lecturer bordering on communist (and I don't mean the haircut).

Ah, c'est la vie.

Okay, hope I didn't bore you too much with the rant there. Here's today's featured band, Voxtrot. One of my favourite bands ever. And I reckon, the backbone of every indie playlist out there. Heh. It's really hard to encapsulate this band's sound in a paragraph, much less a blog post. But I'll try anyways; it comes as a cross between the old Stone Roses and (definately) Belle and Sebestian. And sometimes with a hint of melancholy thrown in. Think LEVY or Interpol. You'll love Voxtrot if you're a fan of The Mystery Jets, The Smiths, and (or) Pine Club.

The songs off the Raised By Wolves EP/Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP sound like poetic rebuttals written on the back of a napkin, then rocked out in an empty basement. That's my take on it. Here's what Pitchfork thinks; "[I]t's okay for somebody to be into both Throbbing Gristle and Belle and Sebastian," Voxtrot's Ramesh Srivastava writes on his blog, "and I'm pretty sure that's a good thing." When Srivastava moved to Glasgow at the age of 19, he'd already written the tracks that would comprise the Raised By Wolves EP, songs with deft arrangments and charming melodies that evoke Belle & Sebastian, Morrissey, and the Lucksmiths, but with jagged, rumbling guitars remindful of early Cure and, sometimes, Joy Division. Srivastava immersed himself in Glasgow's nightclub scene, developing a particularly strong affinity for Optimo. The commingling of his jangle-pop roots and his newfound love of dance music is writ large in the Texas-based band's turbocharged twee.

Yes, that means good.

You can buy Voxtrot's EPs at their website. Because I'm pretty sure HMV doesn't have it. Or it would have been sitting on my CD rack right now. Oh, and you can read Ramesh Srivastava's blog here.

All Highly Recommended:
Voxtrot - "Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives"
Voxtrot - "The Start of Something"
Voxtrot - "The Warmest Part of the Winter"

I'll return tomorrow with either Ariel Pink or Spoon. Or maybe both.

See you tomorrow then.

Forza Italia!

"If You Don't Give My Football back, I'm Gonna Get My Dad On You."

2006-06-27T12:21:00.000+08:00

Yeah, knock 'em back Lippi.

An absolutely splendid display from the Azzuri, and a totally deserving penalty at death. I don't comprehend why people are harping about the fact that the Aussies are out. Like Marcelo Lippi (inset) said at the post-match conference, Italy had four clear-cut opportunities in the first half, and were terribly unlucky not to score. How do you explain Schwartzer diving to the right, only to save Luca Toni's low drive (to the left) with his still extended leg? Though I would have to say, it was a gutsy performance by the Aussies, and it was always difficult to play a Guus Hiddink side with 10 men. But still, we nicked it. You can't buy class.

This rant has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I won 84 big ones.

Alright, enough of the coffeeshop talk. Though I would have loved to see Vincent and Dennis sitting together at a bar for the Portugal/Netherlands game. Heh.

The last few days have been football, football, and more football. With all my projects looming, the World Cup couldn't have come at a worse time. And my obsession with the betting shop is bordering on unhealthy. And with the shouting at the telly, I might need Strepsils by the crate.

Oh, and have I mentioned my absolute disgust at public buses? Ugh. Ray Romano once mentioned in "Everybody Loves Raymond", "A public bus is like a smelly feet contest". No Ray, you're wrong. A public bus is more like inside a hamster's cage, when you've not changed the wood shavings for months. Yes, it can be that smelly in sunny, clean Singapore. And what's worse, the service I use to commute from school, service 80, is a top contender for any smell-worthy award.

Hell, it could be a tourist attraction itself. Heh. Service 80 goes through Chinatown, where they'll pick up mean hobos, pick up old fogeys with unmedicated depression, and old women who do not hesitate to spit in the bus. Oh and not to mention the fair share of people who keep talking to themselves in the bus (with full articulation, no less). Then, the bus will head to Clarke Quay, where they'll pick up party-goers fresh out of the Ministry of Sound. Next up will be Bugis, where people push and shove to board the bus. Bugis will also bring aboard another host of weirdos. And the last interesting stop, it goes through Geylang, Singapore's premier red-light district. Where prostitutes and scum gather.

I'm not grouping both together. Prostitution is an honest living, though frowned upon. But natrually red-light districts just attracts scum-of-the-earth. Which is alright by me, but don't these guys like shower, ever? Look, cigarettes doesn't musk that hamster smell dude. Sheesh.

Don't even get me started on pig swill.

Everyday I get Singapore, encapsulated on a ten-wheeler (yes, buses have ten wheels). If you don't have a car, and is forced to use public transport, here's your break, in the form of Camera Obscura. And if you do have a car, just download it anyways.

Camera Obscura - "Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken"
Camera Obscura - "If Looks Could Kill"
Camera Obscura - "Let's Get Out of This Country"

Bonus:
Jim Noir - "Eanie Meanie" (the adorable track in the Adidas ad)
Jim Noir - "My Patch" (Hot Chip Remix)
Sufjan Stevens - "The Henny Buggy Band"

Sorry, If the post seems a bit rushed. I gotta get dressed for school. I'll probably introduce Camera Obscura in the next post. For now, just put this on your iPod and go board the bus.

Enjoy!

JACKIE IS A PUNK/JUDY IS A RUNT!

2006-06-21T19:59:00.000+08:00

Whoa. Seems like a bit of time has passed since the last post.

In the time I was absent, I:
- Watched almost all World Cup matches telecast.
- Wagered on Angola (Dammit).
- Didn't do (almost) all of my homework.
- Watched The Royal Tenenbaums 2 times.
- Bought 3 albums in the past day
- Revisited Monseiur Gainsbourg.

Speaking of Gainsbourg, I bought his tribute album today, "Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited". An excellent compilation, with Franz Ferdinand, Jane Birkin, The Rakes, Portishead, Chan "Cat Power" Marshall, Carla Bruni and Placebo, just to name a few, doing the English adaptations.

If you don't what he has done in the past century, ask yourself what hasn't he done;
Serge Gainsbourg, the singer - songwriter - Pygmalion - actor - filmmaker - author - entertainer - agitator - gambler - ladys man, a man whose many facets reflect in each other to form one of the most dazzling prisms in twentieth-century French culture, and whose sparkle now spreads well beyond both France and the century.

Inspiring a whole generation of artists, from Beck to Portishead, Massive Attack to Sonic Youth, his vision could only be rivalled by David Bowie. With that being said, I won't sum him up- because I can't. Go to your local record stores to pick up his records, then you'll know what I mean.

Oh, and I picked up the Mystery Jets' new LP today, "Making Dens". One of my most anticipated albums in the past two years, though I was a tad disappointed with the early demos I heard of the band. Featured in Dazed and Confused in June last year, and a personal favourite of Matt Tong of Bloc Party, this band is about as honest as white bread, and more exciting than prawn sandwiches. Alright, that didn't sound too convincing. Matt can explain it better. "When people tell me they're breaking all the rules of rock, I think to myself that there were never aware of any to break in the first place. The Mystery Jets are perfectly uncontrived. I also like the fact that it means nothing to the Mystery Jets to go to an 80s night in Leeds and breakdance. Finally, I'm jealous because I always wanted to be in a band with my dad but he's into Christian rock and Kenny G."

Reasons to love Mystery Jets: Quirky, Father-and-son playing alongside each other, charmingly honest, sounds like an ancient Bloc Party, and they sing songs that makes you wanna laugh at them (before you laugh at yourself).

I watched The Royal Tenenbaums twice in the last two days, and I'm probably gonna watch it after this. It is practically impossible not to love a Wes Anderson film. The eccentric quirks, brilliant cast, brilliant acting, brilliant storytelling and an equally brilliant soundtrack. His previous outing, The Life Aquatic used mostly David Bowie's songs, and in Tenenbaums, it's The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Nico, Bob Dylan, The Ramones, The Clash, amongst others.

It's now my joint-favourite film, alongside Lost In Translation. Whether I'll watch it 15 times like I did with LiT, I can't say for sure.

I think I'm in love with Margot.

Serge Gainsbourg - Initial BB
Serge Gainsbourg - Couleur Café
Srege Gainsbourg - NEW YORK USA

Jane Birkin - Jane B

Mystery Jets - You Can't Fool Me Dennis (from Making Dens)
Mystery Jets - The Tale
Mystery Jets - Lizzy's Lion

Bonus Tracks:
The Velvet Underground & Nico - I'm Waiting For the Man
The Clash - Rock The Casbah (Live in Jamaica; 1982) (Featured in The Royal Tenenbaums)
The Arctic Monkeys - The View From The Afternoon
SOUND Team - Monster
Cat Power - The Greatest
Cat Power - Where Is My Love

914 Studio Demos (this is pretty rare stuff):
The Ramones - I Don’t Wanna Go Down to the Basement
The Ramones - 53rd and 3rd
The Ramones - I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
The Ramones - Judy Is a Punk (Featured in The Royal Tenenbaums)
The Ramones - Loudmouth
The Ramones - Judy Is a Punk (Studio)

Alright, here's a little something I learnt in the "Design in Context" class today.

Quote of The Day: "These Egyptian hieroglyphics clearly show that, after you die, and your heart weighs less than the feather, you'll go to NEVADA."

I don't know which is more hilarious. Mispronouncing 'Nirvana', or declaring 'Sin City' the new Heaven. Eat your heart out, Mr. Cobain.

Viva Las Vegas.

threesixtyfivesevenfifty.

2006-06-16T13:02:00.000+08:00

"I don't think I'm a bad role model. I'm just being true to myself. Maybe girls will see that and go do something with themselves." - Annie from Giant Drag.

Was up this morning watch the Swedes scrape past Paraguay. Did you see that Källström shot? I'm so gonna buy a Sweden kit and support Olympique Lyonnais.

There is life outside the Premiership. Forget England. People to watch: David Villa(Esp), Johan Elmander (Swe), Wilhemson (Swe), Phillip Lahm (Ger), Dirk Kuyt (Hol), Lee Chun Soo (Kor), and the whole Italian team.

I reckon this World Cup will be the Azzuri's. Bite me.

Alright, enough of the footy talk. I have been listening to too much Giant Drag in the past day (yes, it's a good thing). And I have to say, "Kevin is Gay" is the best feel-good song of the year. The duo, consisting of Annie and Micah, a blend of delightful melodic pop, and you have your new favourite band. And it helps that Annie looks as cute as a button too. The picture and quote, courtesy of i-D, May '06 issue.

You've gotta love a band that writes songs as quirky as "My Dick Sux".

So here's a cut from their (not that) new album Stars and Unicorns. Available at HMV Singapore.

All highly recommended:
Giant Drag - "Kevin is Gay"
Giant Drag - "This Isn't It" (Live)
Giant Drag - "My Dick Sux" (Live)
Giant Drag - "God Only Knows" (Beach Boys cover)

And some bonus tracks:
Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66 - "Mas Que Nada"
Tamba Trio - "Mas Que Nada"
RJD2 - "De L'alouette" (the track from the new Adidas ad. José +10)

Check out more "Mas Que Nada" tracks at MOKB and World Cup babes at Gorilla vs Bear.

Enjoy your World Cup.

Bad Diary Days

2006-06-13T00:19:00.000+08:00

Okay, here's a picture of Lily Allen from last month's i-D magazine, for those of you who were probably too lazy to click on the links. Oh, and for those of you who are probably having the Monday blues.

Nothing happened today though. Just realised that all my thumbnails for my Illustrator class just went into the toilet because of a change of brief.

Ah well.

Anyways, here's a joke I thought was pretty fab.

Doctor Dave had slept with one of his patients and felt guilty all day long. No matter how much he tried to forget about it, he just couldn't. The guilt and sense of betrayal was overwhelming. But every once in a while he'd hear an internal, reassuring voice in his head that said:

"Dave, don't worry about it. You aren't the first medical practitioner to sleep with one of their patients, and you won't be the last. And you're single. Just let it go, Dave."

But invariably another voice in his head would bring him back to reality, whispering:

"Dave.....
Dave.....
Dave, you sick bastard
You're a vet."

Heh. And this as well.

Alright, before I sign off, here's a couple tunes for the trip to work tomorrow (after another World Cup-induced night). With everyone wearing heavy eye-bags and with your (probably) pissed off boss tomorrow, it looks like you're gonna get the Tuesday blues as well.

Just don't yell something stupid, like tubby demonstrated above.

Good luck.

The "Sunshine" Soundtrack
Bobby Darin - "Splish Splash"
The Prototypes - "Je Ne Te Connais Pas"
Nina Simone - "I Got Life"
Corinne Bailey Rae - "Put Your Records On"
Herman's Hermits - "I'm Into Something Good"
Lily Allen - "LDN"
Arctic Monkeys - Cigarette Smoke (Demo)

And I apologise that the "Ram It Home" link is dead, worst thing is that I can't find my copy as well. Anyways, here's another equally good We Are Scientists song: "In Action" (thanks to bhlogiston for the heads-up!)

See you tomorrow then. Same time, same channel.

k.i.s.s.i.n.g.s.e.x.i.n.g.

2006-06-11T01:19:00.000+08:00

Busy busy.

- Sorry for the lack of posts these couple of days, have been extremely busy. Busy with school, busy with work, yada yada.

- I hardly have time for myself nowadays, and the World Cup makes it worse.

- Anyways, I caught "She's The Man" today with Dennis, Vincent, and Wah. Really fabulous show. Well, the main reason I liked it was because it was based on Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night". Nah, who am I kidding, Amanda Bynes is the only reason I wanted to watch it.

- School has been a 'lil monotonous the past week; and ironically, my current iPod fave is Hot Chip's "Over and Over" (and over and over and over and over...).

- And I was supposed to hand in my Class Transfer Appeal letter on Thursday, but I didn't (sorry 1V!). I thought, it would seem really bad, as I got to know the lads, then dump them to go back to my former class (though 1V was the best class ever, and I don't think that anything else that happens in NAFA can top that). Heh, and no, Russell Lee had not influenced my decision in any way.

- Have found my new favourite store- Actually. And yes, all I wanted was this cool bag but I had to buy some shit to get it. The cool shit includes a Local Celebrity tee and Fender slippers. And I'm still deliberating on the Lucky jeans and the CBGB tee.

- Was reading the May issue of the Brit mag i-D, and was pretty excited to see Lily Allen inside. Was surfing Gorilla vs. Bear just now, and was pretty excited to see Lily Allen inside.

- Oh, and my current soundtrack-of-the-week also includes We Are Scientists' "Ram It Home", and Art Brut's "Good Weekend".

- Art Brut: "Got myself a BRAND NEW GIRLFRIEND!"
We Are Scientists: "All my friends ask if my girlfriend's pretty. I said I don't know; I only look at her titties.
Art Brut: "I saw her naked TWICE!"

- Yes, those are the actual lyrics.

- Kinda had a topsy-turvy kinda week. Yes, I only use kiddie vocabulary when I'm serious. Was so psyched after our previous match (which we lost 4-1 by the way), the passion died down midweek, and was ignited last night by Deutchland. I never liked German football, but Klinsmann's side plays the kind of attacking football that makes you just want to go up and lick your plasma telly.

- And SLK-ians, watch out for my goal Lahm-esque tomorrow.

- Speaking of topsy-turvy, I thought for the whole week that Lily Allen was the new "It" gurl, only to be overthrown by Amanda Bynes hours before, then after seeing Lily on Gorilla vs. Bear, it's Ms. Allen again.

- She smokes. She drinks. Oh and she sings also.

- Lily Allen reminds me of: Feist, Regina Spektor, Nelly Furtado, Brazil, Esthero, summer, Mattafix, Ella Fitzgerald, Cuba, Lindsay Lohan, vodka tonic by the beach bar, piano loops, window shopper... (her album comes out on the 17th of July)

- Lily Allen reminds Pitchfork of: " Lily's debut single "LDN" is breezy, lilting summertime pop, a horn-tinged tribute to London-- loving without being fawning, charming without being all winks and nods."

- Caught the England/Paraguay match just now at a café. What a bore. And what's the fuss with Peter Crouch? Apparently nobody can tell that he totally sucks.

- I'm increasingly attracted to Chinatown.

- Noise you should listen to (all highly recommended):
Lily Allen - LDN
Lily Allen - Smile
Lily Allen - Friday Night
Lily Allen - Friend of Mine
Lily Allen - Mixtape 1
Lily Allen - Mixtape 2

Babyshambles - Killamangiro
Röyksopp - Only This Moment
The White Stripes - Blue Orchid
Hot Chip - Over and Over
Interpol - Evil
Interpol - Obstacle 1
Art Brut - Good Weekend
We Are Scientists - Ram It Home

You can find these bands at HMV.

- "The bottom feels so much better than the top!"

- Later.

"And The Door Opens to Reveal- Nothing."

2006-06-05T18:58:00.000+08:00

Whiteshadow:
"Minions, I have summoned you here today to announce a new member of our group. A new villan to add to our pantheon of evil that I have assembled. Please welcome - Dangerdoom!"

Alright, this man (or mouse, if you must) needs no introduction. But here goes it anyways. One of the pioneers in Bastard Pop, or Mash-ups, as teenyboppers prefer to call it, you might have heard his mix on the Jay-Z vs. Beatles track, "Encore". Still remember the Grey album?

Under the monkier Dangerdoom, he mixes old-school hip-hop with subtle modern cuts. No talking about 24-inch Cadillacs, no rhyming about sexcapades, no gangsta pretence, just slick hip-hop, with drawling vocals, and with a modern/old-school touch. Listening to his records, you feel as if the sounds, the vocals are spontaneous, and at times, even incidental. If you were into hip-hop in the '80s, you'll dig this. If you were in to N.W.A. (and/or DJ Shadow), you'll dig this. If you were a fan of "The Price is Right" (yes, the gameshow), you'll (also) dig this. Heh.

Alright, back to the man himself. He has mixed tunes for the Gorillaz, and (you should know this already), he is one half of Gnarls Barkley. And after spending so many weeks at the top, he's deleting his no. 1 single, "Crazy", to focus on his follow-up single "Smiley Faces".

Speaking in the character of Gnarls Barkley, the band explained in a statement: "I consider myself a realist. I suppose that goes for most of us. But I have found a way to at once hold them, fold them, walk away and run. This was not a painless decision. But pain is nothing but a bi-product of beauty. Potentially toxic, to be sure, but that's all it is."

Salute.

Occult Hymn EP
1. Dangerdoom - Skit 1
2. Dangerdoom - El Chupa Nibre Remix
3. Dangerdoom - Perfect Hair II
4. Dangerdoom - Korn Dogz
5. Dangerdoom - Skit 2
6. Dangerdoom - Sofa King Remix
7. Dangerdoom - Space Ho's (Madlib Version)

Bonus:
Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy (Live)

Free EP courtesy of Dangerdoom and adultswim.com.

Signing off now, gonna have some dinner. I'll probably post some Art Brut tomorrow.

"Every Spaceman know you've gotta have Space Ho's! Even Spacegirls know it."

Steady As She Goes.

2006-06-02T21:54:00.000+08:00

Ugh. I have been feeling absolutely horrid the past couple of days. Down with the bloody flu (oh, and for good measure why don't we throw in a little sore throat as well?), and compelled by the fact that I'm the only doofus from the old 1V who can't join up with the same class next year. Someone up there doesn't fancy me too much. Ha.

Amateur Footy League's coming up on Sunday, and I had best be in better shape soon. I just hate being sick. It's different if you banged up your arm, or getting bruised; being sick feels worse.

And you always have to drink a mélange of different-smelling, dark coloured mysterious Chinese herbal drinks. One of which, is pictured on the right, on the Hoegaarden coaster. Taken with my bloody cell phone camera, it manages to make Lost In Translation DVD look like a porno.

The only good to come out of any of these, is that I'll hopefully be getting my freelance paycheck in the next couple of days, and it's gonna be a toss up between the Zara blazer or the Freitag bag from Actually. These are the few perks when you don't have a girlfriend. And besides, the Freitag's equally attractive.

Okay. That was the flu talking, so I'll better stop here. And for the record, girls are definately more attractive.

Need to get some rest for footy training tomorrow, so I'll leave you with an extract on the Red Hot Chili Willies, I mean Peppers. And some live tracks. For good measure.

(text extract courtesy of LeedsUnited.com)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have unleashed a two-CD set, ‘Stadium Arcadium’, on Warner Bros. Records. ‘Stadium Arcadium’ is a 28 track double album with discs entitled ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Mars’.

The band — Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith — entered the studio last March with producer Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, System Of A Down) to commence work upon the album in the same house in the Hollywood Hills where they recorded 1991’s groundbreaking, multi-platinum album ‘BloodSugarSexMagik’.

"We set out to write 13 songs," says Kiedis. "But as has been the case every time we've tried to do that, we ended up with 30-some-odd songs. The difference this time was we ended up liking all of those songs and finishing all of those songs, and it actually became a very difficult process to even whittle it down to 28." "Every album we do, we try to have a concept and a sense of direction," Frusciante explains. "The most important idea for this album was movement." Smith elaborates, "Something new is constantly being introduced, in every chorus or verse, whether it's a backing vocal or a guitar part, a different rhythm or an unexpected style." "The chemistry was in better order than in a long time," Kiedis told Spin earlier this year. "Everyone is frighteningly happy at the moment." Although he says he's again exploring "the dark and nefarious side of Los Angeles” in his lyrics, he clarifies, “but not in a judgmental sense," venturing, "It's all about the joy of dysfunction."

The lead single, ‘Dani California’, debuted worldwide on April 3rd and was supported by a video directed by Tony Kaye (‘American History X’) portraying a history of rock 'n' roll. The ‘Jupiter’ CD track listing comprises: ‘Dani California’, ‘Snow (Hey Oh)’, ‘Charlie’, ‘Stadium Arcadium’, ‘Hump de Bump’, ‘She's Only 18’, ‘Slow Cheetah’, ‘Torture Me’, ‘Strip My Mind’, ‘Especially in Michigan’, ‘Warlocks’, ‘C'mon Girl’, ‘Wet Sand’ and ‘Hey’. The ‘Mars’ disc features: ‘Desecration Smile’, ‘Tell Me Baby’, ‘Hard to Concentrate’, ‘21st Century’, ‘She Looks to Me’, ‘Readymade’, ‘If’, ‘Make You Feel Better’, ‘Animal Bar’, ‘So Much I’, ‘Storm in a Teacup’, ‘We Believe’, ‘Turn It Again’ and ‘Death of a Martian’. ‘Stadium Arcadium’ will also be available in a limited-edition black box that includes the 28-song, two-CD set, plus a DVD with the ‘Dani California’ video and behind-the-scenes “making of the video footage; a one-hour band interview; a 28-page booklet; original artwork by the band; and "special space-age discoveries."

Kiedis says of the double album’s title: "I hope it means something different to everyone, but to me, in the chorus of the song 'Stadium Arcadium’, I get the feeling of being off in the wilderness with a large group of people creating a huge light, playing music for those people and reflecting the love that's going on between us and them."

"I think we're aware that we're all vehicles of something much bigger than ourselves," Flea allows. "And we also know it's up to us to do the footwork to get in a position to receive all this energy flying around. Spirituality can be a pretty vague term, but each of us in our own way is interested in looking beyond what's directly in front of our face."

‘Stadium Arcadium’ is the ninth album from the Chili Peppers and the first since 2002's ‘By The Way’, which sold more 1.6-million copies in the UK alone. All told, the band has sold more than 50 million albums and enjoyed UK Top 20 success with nine singles.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California(Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Don't Forget Me (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Charlie (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Me And My Friends (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul to Squeeze (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away (Live)

Enjoy these "live" tracks from their concert in Spain, then go buy the album.

I'll return tomorrow with Dangerdoom's new EP, Occult Hymn. Which will be up here for you to download, absolutely FREE. All seven tracks.

So, see you tomorrow then.

"Goodnight everybody! Gimme money!"

Camcorder+Mouth+Editing

2006-05-29T21:32:00.000+08:00

Hyperactive - Lasse Gjertsen

Decided to post something different today. Lasse Gjertsen is an animation student from Norway; you can check out more of his student work here. Very interesting stuff.

He says:
"Drumsolo" using only a camcorder, my mouth and timeconsuming editing :P NO IT'S NOT PROPER BEATBOXING, I KNOW. But that wasn't my aim either :P Trust me, my grampa is doing better beatboxing I possibly could when he's choking on his painkillers, sounds awesome!

My only question is, how wet was the keyboard at the end of it? Looks like a lot of spit, eh?

You should probably check out his "Machine Man" video too. Very cutting edge, but with a Lo-fi feel to it.

Inspired.

"Did Someone Order a Cunt?"

2006-05-29T00:36:00.000+08:00

Alright, remember the last time you actually ran out of swear words to swear with?

Of course you do. Here are some words to help ensure you don't get tongue-tied the next time the maid washes your Man. United jersey with your whites.

And while you're at it, here's a picture for you to practise swearing at.

(courtesy of Kontraband.com)
Your Dad was in Brokeback Mountain

When your mate knocks at the door. Open it and say, 'did someone order a Cunt?'

If I throw a stick will you fuck off?

Go take your face for a shit! (put loads of emphasis in the word 'shit')

Thundercunt!

Hairybubbleofspunk

Son of a wankstained syphilitic motherless goat

You have a face like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle!

Cuntybollocks

Mongloid

Ya Fanbelt

You have a face like a slapped arse.

Cardboard face

Your mother is a hampster and your father smelt of elderberries!!!

Ass-raping-kiddie-fiddler

Are you Coconutman's love child?

ShitFacedCockmaster

Cum-guzzling thundertwat!

I used to have that exact same jumper! Then i got a job.

You so ugly when you were born the doctor slapped ya mama

Speculate on their mums hairy armpits. "She looks like she has got bob marley in a headlock"

You are as good as a cock flavoured lollypop

You have a face like a dropped pie!

Your face looks like it's been set on fire and put out with a shovel

Ebaums World Fan !

Fucknuckle

Twunt

Turbo cunt

Turd Botherer

Sheep enthusiast

She had a fanny like a wizards sleeve

An old classic. Hold up your middle finger and say "Smell your mum!"

Okay. If you're wondering, I didn't compose the above. I've got better things to do.

Audio posts will return on Wednesday, as I will be busy over Monday and Tuesday, orientating NAFA's freshmen. Hopefully that turns out well.

Until then.

Soviet Kitsch.

2006-05-25T00:10:00.000+08:00

There are only a couple of songs that nobody could ever hate.

Jem's "Wish I" and "Just a Ride", Leslie Feist's "Mushaboom". Then along comes Regina Spektor's "Fidelity".

There are a lot of playlists in my iPod, but (somewhat ironically) I only listen to two of them. The ones named "Indie" and "Sunshine". "Sunshine" contains happy songs mostly. Iggy Pop, T-Rex, Gang of Four, BRMC, and heroin junkie Pete Doherty's Babyshambles. Oh, and not to forget Jem and Feist.

I haven't updated it until recently, on my Indie playlist, I heard "Fidelity", by Regina Spektor (pictured above).

Her voice, pleasantly similar to Leslie Feist's, with a more haunting PJ Harvey-like quality, lists (hold your breath here) so much classical music, Bach, Mozart, Chopin and countless many more, The Beatles, Queen, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Bjork, Radiohead, Nirvana, Patti Smith, Billie Holiday, Luis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Vladimir Vysotsky, Eminem, Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, David Bowie, The Velvet Underground, Edith Piaf, so much more rock, hip hop, jazz, punk and possibly you as her musical influences.
Born in Moscow, raised in the Bronx, you may have heard of Regina on The Strokes's track, Post Modern Girls a while back. Legend has it she met Julian Casablancas in a vocal booth while the Strokes were on tour in 2003.

Her album "Soviet Kitsch" is in stores now, receiving a 6.8 from the indie authority, Pitchfork. One of the better pop/folk releases in recent times, it kinda reminds you of cola candy.

Sweet, refreshingly fizzy, and strangely addicitve.

The Strokes - Post Modern Girls (feat. Regina Spektor)

Regina Spektor - Us (highly recommended)
Regina Spektor - Fidelity (highly recommended)
Regina Spektor - Better
Regina Spektor - On The Radio
Regina Spektor - Summer In The City
Regina Spektor - Us (mc DJ Remix)

Her new album "Begin to Hope" will hit the stores on June 13th, so look out for that.

Alright, signing out now. Gonna grab me some grub.

G'nite.

This Summer...

2006-05-24T03:29:00.000+08:00

"10 Things I Hate About Commandments"

The Samuel L. Jackson part just kills me.

Audio posts will return tomorrow, with some Regina Spektor.

That's all folks!

Another Suppertime in The Hole

2006-05-22T17:40:00.000+08:00

The Cold War Kids.

Playing at The Social in London tonight, this band once dubbed the "best unsigned act" on the Indie scene, is an absolute wonder. If you haven't downloaded "Hospital Beds" on my previous post, you really should.

Indie bloggers all around have lauded "Hospital Beds" as a potential song-of-the-year contender, and it's hard to see why not.

This band is a refreshing kick, to the recent rise of bands, like Franz Ferdinand and the Arctic Monkeys, who revolutionised/popularised hook-after-hook of jarring rock. Which isn't bad, really. But if you have grown-up from your old Black Rebel Motorcycle Club LPs, like Peter Hayes has, you'll love the Cold War Kids.

A touch of folk (or "freak folk", if you'd rather), they sound like The Band-meets-Devendra Banhart. Sparse percussion, two note bass lines, bluesy-rock and "fluttering Buckley-esque vocals", and as Ryan Schreiber adds, "at their heart, they write really good songs...", you can be sure of this act.

Their highly-anticipated album looks to hit the stores soon, and (as usual) every indie kid will be looking for Pitchfork's verdict. Until then, enjoy these cuts from their EPs.

Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds (highly recommended)
Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry (highly recommended)
Cold War Kids - Tell Me In The Morning
Cold War Kids - The Soloist In The Living Room
Cold War Kids - Heavy Boots (highly recommended)

The Band - Ophelia
The Band - Helpless (with Neil Young)

Devendra Banhart - Bluebird
Devendra Banhart - I Feel Just Like a Child

Signing out.

Down on Your Hands and Knees.

2006-05-20T01:26:00.000+08:00

The Raconteurs.

Gawd help you if you haven't heard of them. And don't cringe, Indie kids- they're every bit as good as they look. Their songs have been played over the radio (that means bad in Singapore,'cuz we don't have a Indie/Alt. Rock station, but instead share the airwaves with the likes of the eff-ing Pussycat Dolls.), but don't take anything away from this "supergroup".

With the jarring, gilted-edged, eclectic, non-conformist, brand of alternative/rock/punk brought into the mix by Jack White, up with the talents of brilliant singer/songwriter (and indie darling), Brendan Benson, they both got together one hot summer and penned a song that "truly inspired them". Steady As She Goes, then.

That inspiration led to the formation of a full band, roping in two-thirds of The Greenhornes, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler (also brilliant by the way).

Alright, enough from me. This should convince you enough.

Brendan Benson: "It's something totally new for me -- two songwriters working together. Dual vocals, dual lead guitars, dual songwriting duties."

The Raconteurs - "Steady As She Goes" (highly recommended)
The Raconteurs - "Store Bought Bones" (highly recommended)
The Raconteurs - "Together"

Brendan Benson - "What I'm Looking For"
Brendan Benson and The Well-fed Boys - "Metarie"
Brendan Benson - "Alternative to Love"

Their debut LP, Broken Boy Soldiers was released on May 15 in the UK, and 16th in the US. I haven't been to HMV in the past week or so; have been trying to curb my spending. When was the last time I stepped out of HMV empty-handed? Hmm. Don't think I have yet.

Alright, will try to scoot by to see if the album has dropped, then let you know.

And here's a song you shouldn't do without; they're all over the indie blogosphere now.

Cold War Kids - "Hospital Beds"

I'll probably introduce them tomorrow.

Until then.

Only Logical.

2006-05-18T01:50:00.000+08:00

I just wish Singapore had Indie festivals like these.

Alright folks. The Desdemona Music Fest. takes place on the 23rd to the 25th of June in Ohio. It's pretty fab, with The Walkmen, We Are Scientists, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Rogue Wave... amongst others.

So while you can't be there, you can still get your paws on these music at HMV.

In the meantime, live the dream.
WE ARE SCIENTISTS - Inaction
SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME - Can't Ever Sleep
AU REVOIR SIMONE - Hurricanes
CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY - It Might Be Me
THE SPECTACULAR FANTASTIC - Darkest Hour
T HE WALKMEN - Tenleytown
RADIO 4 - Sink So Low (Live)
HEARTLESS BASTARDS - Onions
MARGOT AND THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO'S - Skeleton Key
THE DOUBLE - Idiocy
RICHARD SWIFT - Lady Day

If the BayBeats organiser is reading this, could we have some better international acts headlining the 2006 show?

Perhaps some Cold War Kids.

Okay, gotta run now. Champion League Final's coming up.

Goodnight.

I Think He's Sand-bagging It.

2006-05-15T03:55:00.000+08:00

While surfing for World Cup news over ESPN, I stumbled upon this nut. Tommy Smyth. It's really hard to miss him, if you click on the "World Cup" link on Soccernet.

From what I gathered, he's Irish, and as you probably can see, looks very much what you'd expect in a garden gnome. Stout, short, and full of crap. Broke his soccer commentary virginity in 1993, he has been terrorising the goggle box for 13 years now.

If you'd ask me, he good for a laugh or so. But shouting in your ear for 90 minutes? You may just cancel your ESPN subscription, as these guys did. Former Patricians will probably recognise some similarities to a fomer student there. The Game-boy-playing, nose-dirt-in-mouth, dandruff gourmet, aptly named C*** P**.

Anyways, I'm a tad sleepy now, so I'm gonna leave you with some oral exerpts from a recent Sportscenter episode, while I dream of my Lotto Zhero Gravity boots. Enjoy. (Audio posts will return on Wednesday. Will be off on a 2-day class Chalet, down at Downtown East.)

(exerpts from Sportscenter)
ESPN Anchorman: Alright, speaking of the (World) Cup Finals. FIFA head, Sepp Blatter, said last week, that any country that makes public racist displays will be docked points. It's a very noble, long-over-due gesture perhaps. This week, he's now backing off the comments. What do you make of it?

Tommy Smyth: Well, the problem with Sepp Blatter is that he has ten ideas, and eleven of them are bad, and not workable. I mean, how are you gonna dock a team three points because there were fans in the stadium who are shouting-racists. It could be opposing fans for all you know... I mean I see Neil Lennon play for Northen Ireland, and they were barking him the whole game. So what do you do? Dock them three points? These are just not gonna happen. Sepp Blatter was trying to be politically correct, and he made a real mess of it.

ESPN Anchorman: So that was just it, a politically-correctness stab...

Tommy Smyth: Yeah, well, Sepp is one of these guys- He gets up in the morning, and some reporter... and then later changes his mind. His latest crusade is that England shouldn't have a foreign coach; that England should have an English coach. Mind your own businsess Sepp!

(lifted from dangerhere.com)
As Champions League matches are aired around 3 pm in North America I tend to follow them on the web. However, for the Madrid Juventus game I sat down to listen to the great man and was not disappointed.

Before the game even kicks off, Tommy is off to a great start.
“There is a shot of Juan Carlos, the Spanish King. There is royalty here, besides ourselves.”
Good one Tommy, except you are in a television studio in the US watching the game on TV like the rest of us.

Ten minutes in, after some borderline guff, Tommy decides to add some levity to the situation.
“Well, I’ll make a prediction that there will be at least one Italian team in the final”
This is greeted with much mirth by his sycophantic co-commentator.

A couple of minutes later the great man informs us that "Thuram is not the greatest attacker in the world”
No disputing that Tommy, but if you meant to say attacking defender then you obviously forgot about the 1998 World Cup.

Only fifteen minutes into the game and Tommy produces a gem.
“Roberto Carlos, left back may be his address but you never find him home there”

A few minutes later he informs the viewers that, “it is all tactics, it so tactical out there” without any reference to any particular tactic. We also learn that “Nedved is a great story” without finding out just what kind of story that is.

These are just a few of the many non sequiturs that Tommy litters his commentary with.

Still only at 20 minutes in Tommy starts banging on about ‘catenaccio’ without actually explaining to his viewers what the Italian term for a certain defensive strategy means. As my father would say Tommy, “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”

Four minutes later Ronaldo opens the scoring with a side footed shot around the advancing Buffon. However, I and the rest of the viewers must be mistaken because according to Tommy, the Brazilian, “slides it off the outside of his boot”

Shortly afterwards, the Nedved story continues apace and we are informed that, “he really hasn’t done very little in the midfield.”

My word, we are only half an hour into the game and Tommy is inching me closer and closer to selecting the Spanish commentary.

33 minutes and images of a firing squad outside the visitors dressing room are conjured up as Tommy declares that Madrid “don’t want to go to Turin with Juventus alive”

34 minutes - “What did I say about catenaccio?” Not sure Tomster.

38 minutes - “I don’t want to keep harping on about it but Figo is having a field day out there”
Nah Tommy, 8 references in the first 30 minutes to how Figo is getting the better of Birindelli is not excessive. Not at all.

45 minutes - Trezeguet scores for Juventus and Tommy delights his viewers around the world by telling us how the Frenchman, “bulges the corner of the auld onion bag”

My word, I need a cup of tea or something stiffer.

Second Half

Ronaldo is substituted and Tommy confesses that, “I have no idea what went on, complete mystery as far as I am concerned.”
Mr. Smyth, it is you who say it.

60:00 - Tommy gets all tangled up previewing the first leg of the Milan Derby, “Must he hard to convince yourself you’re playing on the road when you’re playing at home.”

66:00 - Tommy waxes lyrical about Juventus as they push forward, “They are a very very good side irregardless of how many men they have short.”

73:00 - Roberto Carlos scores a controversial goal and I eagerly await Tommy’s denouement.
“For my interpretation of that rule you should change that rule; passive offside. Rule was done perfectly but I still don’t agree with it.”
Clear as mud Tommy.

87:00 - “Synergy, I love that word - don’t you? Sometimes you keep the good wine till last.”
If by good wine you mean vinegar...

88:00 - Real Madrid are caught offside and Tommy elucidates what transpired. “There was a little daylight there (i.e. between attacker and defender - I think!) although it is actually night time. You know what I mean.”

To which his beleaguered co-commentator J.P. Dellacamera replies, “I’ve worked with you so long I actually understand you.”

What bollocks.

Goodnight.

Mes Amis. Football is Like Fencing. (Announcement)

2006-05-12T03:10:00.000+08:00

Alright mates. Introducing the new SLK logo.
I've made two for you guys to choose, though personally, I really like B.

The idea behind A, was to basically show that we are progressing as a team. Still remember the times when we got whooped bad? Betcha can't. That shows how far we've come, how SLK has matured as a team. Though now it's mostly us handing out the whoop-ass, we are still progressing, and still learning.

For B, it's a sleek, modern, clean logo. Lower-case letters were used, to represent the youth that still lurks in our play, while the flame is a reminder to kick ass, Roy-Keane-style. It also represents the determined spirit that we should always play with. We're in the AFL, and we definately mean business.

So, lemme know what you think of it.
And when you do read this, message me on my PHONE, to VOTE which you'd prefer (for SLK FC players only. Sorry!), 'cause these have to be sent in to be printed on Saturday, together with our spanking new Home Kit.

Alright, signing out.

Days of Our Lives.

2006-05-11T01:18:00.000+08:00

The past few days have been uneventful, been losing sleep over my Newcastle team in Football Manager 2005. Still pretty fun, though. Who would have thought that even the Magpies could grab the last Champions League spot? And who would have thought that Alan Shearer and Kluivert would miss 13 out of 15 penalty shots? Utter rubbish. Now when I'm awarded penalties, I don't expect them to score. I hate FM so much. But I can't seem to stop playing it.

We had the 4-Man B'day Bash for Augustine/Chubby/Daryl/Mark on Saturday, with SLK. Pretty fun, to catch up with the fellas, especially Mark, whom I haven't seen in a while. Highlight of the event? When Terence, I and Meng pulled off an elaborate plan, and caked Daryl. Heh, sorry man. Revenge is sweet. Like, strawberry-cake-with-banana-topping sweet.

Just kidding man, don't kill me when my birthday comes 'round.

Have you met a stranger, you knew for only 2 days, but knew you wanted to be with her forever? I can't believe I'm still thinking about her. Honestly. People around are getting attached, and watching DVDs on the couch together, and I'm still cutting a lone figure in front of the iMac.

I mean if I wanted to, I could have easily joined the DVD club. But the truth is, I haven't found someone I wanted to be with yet (save for her, obviously). Sometimes you see people together, young couples, pensioners, have you ever wondered, do they really love each other? Or is it societal pressure? Or is it a marriage of convenience? If you decide to go steady with this girl, just because you're single/bored, what happens when you find the one?

Then, sometimes it just hits you. I don't know why I liked her then, and I still don't know now. But I just wanted to be with her.

I could have asked her out, but I didn't. Was I still trying to play hard-to-get? Or did I even care to ask her out?

I'll never find out.

It's The Smiling On The Package.

2006-05-11T00:13:00.000+08:00

Orientation is looming. Newbies, wannabes, and posers- the whole lot. And then you have designers. I'm pretty excited about it. Meeting the freshmen. My friend's joining as well, and her of course.

This year, word is going around that they're increasing the cohort. Bloody amazing. As if the facilities aren't stretched to it's limits already.

The lecturers will never forget to remind you how many design students graduate from school each year. But then, look around. Your Satanic headbangers, your Harajuku wannabes, your Bathing Ape pretenders, and the worst? Those who keep flashing/pretending-to-read their designer mags on the train, so that strangers can see. I'm sorry to say most of the people you meet around school are fakes.

The real designers, they're a rare bunch. They're the nerds with the Warhol spectacles, the geek who loves his Alan Moore comics, the kid who adores foreign films, your Indie fan, and the effortlessly stylish boys and girls. Which is probably why Armando hopes Class 1V will still stay intact for the next semester, at least.

A lecturer said recently, that the industry's perception of NAFA's students is going into the shitter. Well, he didn't exactly say that, but it's implied. No thanks to these fucking posers. Look at the whole cohort. To be honest, there are only a handful of talented people. The rest, are just there to make up the numbers. It's easy to pass, to fall through the crack, especially if it's a huge one.

Stefan Sagmeister: Only study Graphic Design if you love it. If you want to be a fine artist (or a potter, or a...) and study Graphic Design because of some vague promise of money, don't. It won't work. The people who love it will always do better work. And they will earn the money.

The Kid With The Arab Strap

2006-05-04T01:05:00.000+08:00

Ah. Back, finally. Just realised that Safari can't run Blogger proper, so now I'm officially on FireFox. And I can FINALLY use italics. Which probably makes me as happy as Tom Cruise.

Alright, busy-busy past couple of weeks. I haven't really got time to catch my breath; just tied up the last of my projects this afternoon. Yes, the Mrs. Singapore Magazine. To be entirely honest, doing up the mag isn't all that exciting; it's pretty much hard work, meeting deadlines and not-sleeping. But the Organisers were really fab people, and it was really my pleasure meeting them.

However, I spoke with their printer today, and he (the printer) is one rude, ignorant son-of-a-b****. I gave him all the necessary files he needed to print, but instead of using the .pdf file, he went to open the eff-ing InDesign file. Then he told me the links were missing. I asked him to use the .pdf file, and he told me there weren't any crop marks (the sodding crop marks were there alright). Which was probably alright by me, if he were civilised.

But the asshole, hinted that I didn't do my job right, and insinuated that he knew much more than I did. Alright, firstly, it is NOT my fault if you're probably a Primary 2 drop-out (which probably explains why he mixes Hokkien with English), on a two-pack a day habit; a blue-collar worker who goes to work in a singlet, slippers and a $5 pair of shorts, and gets paid to push buttons. Any monkey could do that for free, and doesn't even need to wear $5 shorts.

Secondly, I was practically around colour seperation machines, casting machines, and printing machines all my life. So, if anything, he should be listening to me. So the conversation would go something like,

Printer: "Your InDesign file have missing links. How you put the pictures inside?! I cannot read. Why you any how put one?"

Me: "Just use the .pdf file."

Printer: "Hello Uncle, your .pdf file have no crop mark leh." (sneering sarcastically.)

Me: "The crop marks are there. Tell you what. Open it in Photoshop, then flatten it."

Printer: "Noooooooo. Cannot. When print out, my fonts not nice. Will be jagged."

Me: "Look, your printing isn't fantastic. It looks like shit. And I'm being nice."

I had seen his previous work, and it is shit.

Alright, sorry for the long diss. That asshole spoilt my day.

Okay, if you're bored of looking at (your own), or even listening to Morningwood, you will love today's post. Actually, I was really into Nth Degree, but upon listening to the rest of their songs, they're just obssessed with erections. Heh, kidding. Indie doesn't need too many dumb-pop groups. The Futureheads is more than enough (though I like their music).

Alright first, kicking off with the most played song on my iPod the past week- Love Detective by Arab Strap (pictured above). A bloody great track; Aidan Moffat drawling over the song with his raspy voice. If you'd ask me- first thing you should play in the morning after a one night stand. Hopefully, I can find time to drop by Straits Records this week to ask them to get me The Red Thread. I've got a bunch of Arab Strap tracks below, it's free, and legal. So, download them, and get hooked (then buy the albums, heh).

Class 1V, for the past couple of weeks, you must have noticed Wilmer's quirky Obscura monkier. Well, I didn't ask him, but it's probably this- Camera Obscura. Hailing from Glasgow, this band has been compared pretty much to Belle & Sebestian. Which is a good thing, to be compared to legandary, established bands. Sink your teeth in to this delicious blend of melodic-pop.

This just in- new Bloc Party tracks. Their set at Cochella- got the two new songs below. Also check out their website. Lotsa free tracks for you to enjoy, as well as fab remixes.

Also, before I end this post, Stellastar* and Giant Drag have hit HMV Singapore, so try/buy them if you can. Bloody great records.

Arab Strap:
- Love Detective (Highly Reccommended.)
- Fuck-a-Doddle-Don't
- Amante de Una Noche
- Mustard Pants
- Who Named The Days
- G.S.O.H.
- Drug Song For Paula
- "We Don't Make Each Other Laugh Anymore"
- Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)

Bloc Party:
- Waiting for the 7.18
- Uniform

Camera Obscura:
- Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken
- Let's Get Out of This Country
- If Looks Could Kill
- I Need All the Friends I Can Get

Okay, before I hit the sack, a shout-out to Andre. 8TH MAY IS THALESAEMIA DAY. So if you see him, wish him a happy day. Or msg him is you don't see him. In advance, his left ball 'sez thanks!

Oh, before I forget, Saturday is Daryl/Chubby/Mark's secret B'Day bash. Daryl/Chubby/Mark, if you're reading this, then it's not much of a secret anymore. Still, pretend to be suprised, will you? Heh.

We're having a dinner till late, before we head to MoS.
Confirmed attendees: Samuel, Daryl, Chubby, Mark Seet, Adrian, Me, Dennis, Terence.
For those who didn't reply, you guys are stoopid, man. Which part of the "reply regardless on whether you're going" do you not comprehend? Ugh. Gotta resend the message.

EDIT: Final Confirmed Attendees: Samuel, Daryl, Mark Seet, Adrian, Me, Dennis, Terence, Jared, Andre, and probably Meng.

I'd Really Think You'd Like Me

2006-04-23T13:38:00.000+08:00

It's gonna be yet another horrific week of not-sleeping, Red Bull-bingeing, eyebag wearing, douchebag-being week. Yes, quite a mouthful, and you guessed it- bloody assessment week. What are the average sleeping hours of your typical art student during this blitzkreig? Zero. During this period, blood pressure goes up a hundred-fifty percent, and courtesy goes in the shitter.

I won't have time to post mp3s next week, so bear with it for a bit; there'll be a super-post on Sunday, I promise.

Okay, I can't hang here for too long, so here's a song that's been my past week's iPod favourite.
I'm not a big fan of reading lyrics on blogs, but the lyrics on this one really hit me. Brutally honest.

"First Day of My Life" - Bright Eyes

This is the first day of my life
I swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach

Yours is the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
Now I don’t know where I am
I don’t know where I’ve been
But I know where I want to go

And so I thought I’d let you know
That these things take forever
I especially am slow
But I realize that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home

Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange you said everything changed
You felt as if you had just woke up
And you said “this is the first day of my life
I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you
But now I don’t care I could go anywhere with you
And I’d probably be happy”

So if you want to be with me
With these things there’s no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I’d rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery
Besides maybe this time is different
I mean I really think you'd like me.

Yeah, I'm still thinking about her.

"Why Should Art Fuck Design?"

2006-04-15T17:52:00.000+08:00

Alright. It's official- I've officially had it with pies. Done to death with it.

Any pie- you name it; Shepherd's Pie, Chicken Pie, Magpies, Blueberry pie, Apple Pie... Effing disgusting. Everytime I open the fridge, there's pie filling staring back at me. I reckon, in the past week, I must have about consumed just about 10 pies, no less. Mostly chicken pies though. I'm starting to nauseate just thinking of it. Ugh.

There's no escape really. I've still got a couple of pies in the kitchen, and it doesn't help when there's a fab pie shop opposite the school. I had so much pie over the week, I'll bet you I can tell you the Latin names for peas, corn, and chicken.

Was reading up in the library that day, came across Stefan Sagmeister's book (www.sagmeister.com), aptly named 'Sagmeister'. He is one half of Sagmeister Studios, and they are terribly nuts. Which in design talk means, 'good shit' (In ghetto-talk, it's called 'Cheese'. I'm not even gonna try to explain.) It's written by a ghost writer, but the book was pretty awe-inducing, nevertheless. There was a particular quote I really liked, "Why should art fuck design?"

Then he mentioned something (which I forgot), before saying, "...design doesn't give a shit about art." Hope I got that right. It's true in some aspects, really.

Now, if you've never heard of Sagmeister, you've probably seen his work. He has made record covers for Rolling Stone, Lou Reed, amongst others. And yes, you guessed it, Lou Reed's Ecstacy, as pictured above, was by his studio. He also conceptualised the Stones' "Bridges to Babylon" album art. The one with the Silver Lion. I wanted to put that initially, but, decided on this instead. If you haven't heard Lou Reed's music, you dad probably has. Reed's work had always been about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll culture.

I really liked this LP cover. Mostly because of the concept behind it. When I work, I spend alot of time conceptualising, before I even start. The image on the cover, shows Reed, impaled at the neck, in a seemingly agonising pose. Well, that's the difference. The parallel between pain and pleasure. For this album cover, they took a picture of his head, when he had an orgasm. Now who woulda thunk it?

Sagmeister is probably the bastion of mavericks in design today, which makes his work very unexpected, and often awe-inspiring. His most prominent work is probably his poster for AIGA Detroit, for a talk he was headlining. It showed him, barebodied, with the all the text, all cut into his skin by an intern. "We tried to visualize the pain that seems to accompany most of our design projects."

Brilliant.

Angst.

2006-04-11T12:56:00.000+08:00

While logging on to write today's entry, I came across this blog- New York Hack (www.newyorkhack.blogspot.com). Absolutely hilarious, and oh-so-bloody real. I got the picture from his blog, just to give you a visual treat. Read the first few lines, and you'll be hooked (No reference to his 'Hookers' post though. Ha.) How can you not like a blog, whose daily entry probably starts with "This drunk fuck really pissed me off." There's a picture there as well, if you really needed to know how a drunk fuck really looks like. Now if only Singapore was this much fun. Heh.

I'll betcha, wherever you've been, wherever you're from, you'd have encountered slap-worthy people. Be it at the workplace, in school, the noisy fella in the neighbouring lavatory cubicle- they're just everywhere. Wait- I forgot where I'm supposed to go with this.

Damn, it sounded pretty funny, till I lost the plot there. And one more thing, there's something ridiculously wrong with Blogger. I can't seem to adjust the size of the text, and I can seem to drop any bloody hyperlinks. The option buttons just aren't there. This is my second post on the iMac, if you wanted to know. So bear with it for a bit, you've gotta do a little cut-and-paste, or type (whichever rocks your boat), when I post the web links. I'm a 'lil stumped here, so any help would be appreciated.

Just realised that I can't put italics as well. Well sod it. Guess I'll have to be less funny.

Alright now jumping into today's actual post, NYC based Yeah Yeah Yeahs (no relation to NY Hack. Duh.) have released their new EP, titled "Show Your Bones", late last month. I haven't got my paws on it yet, because I've got too busy. Looks like it's not gonna let up soon, I'm knee-deep in my Final Assessments, and I've got the Mrs Singapore paegant's magazine that I've yet to start working on. Ugh.

Well, back to the topic. The reviews look promising, and the tracks- judge for yourself. 'Dudley' and 'Gold Lion' are the more outstanding tracks that I've heard so far, with the heavy drums and the swagger that comes with it. This arrogance is gonna dominate your CD collection.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs:

Modern Things - (http://www.me.berkeley.edu/%7Ehmack/Music/YeahYeahYeahs-ModernThings.mp3)

Gold Lion (Nick Zinner Remix) - (http://www.stanford.edu/~coconn/music/04%20Gold%20Lion-(Nick%20Zinner%20Remix).mp3)

Dudley - (http://www.ezarchive.com/merzmars/AlbumSpace/6B5U4E3GK6/07+Dudley.mp3)

*As much as I love you, I can't seem to find the proper "Gold Lion" to post. Only the remix.
I'll post when I find it.

Alright signing off now. Enjoy the songs, and please buy the album. I know I will. Haha. Tmr's post, I'll try to post abit of Voxtrot here. As well as the day's shenenigans...

G'nite.

You Fucking BIATCH.

2006-04-10T22:30:00.000+08:00

Haha. Loved the title; it was running in my head the whole day.

Wow, my first post since September last year. Bloody amazing. Heh, didn't know I'd be gone so long. Terribly sorry for the loooong time laspe. School is an merciless dominatrix.

Well, for starters, school today was probably one of the worst ever. For I now know that I'm in danger of failing my Design Drawing subject, because of a small-minded, big-arsed lecturer. Oh yes, the fucking Biatch. I'm not a terribly big fan of swearing, but I'll betcha even Buddha couldn't resist spewing a tirade of "fuck yous" if he were in her class. To be fair, I never liked her class. I pretty much slave, and labour on my projects for other subjects, because those lecturers are appreciative. I'd even go as far as to say that I love school; I love all the subjects, and I take pride in all my work. Except in her lesson. I've gotta admit, most of the work I hand up to her are crap, because I can hardly spur myself on to do splendid artwork (which I enjoy doing for my other subjects), for this pompus tub of lard. I won't use her name here, but to be fair to the other hardworking lecturers, The Bitch is a female lecturer, and her class falls on Monday. Do the math.

It's just absolutely amazing how she ever became a lecturer. I won't question her credentials (if she has any at all), but her attitude in class is absolutely apalling- no wait, 'revolting' is the better word. She comes into class, and plops her big-ass bottom on the chair, and just about sneer at everyone in class. Every word that comes out of that mouth of her's is sheer sarcasm, not the kind anyone laughs at. An example, "Who loves Design Drawing?" Then someone (not me, for reasons obvious), being nice says, "Me", the reply is "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" That is horribly mean. It's not the kinda thing anyone would laugh at. And, she is so full of herself, she reminds you of those sexy, elegant, high-society Victorian ladies at the ball, sipping champagne with extended pinkies. Except, The Bitch is absolutely frigid (she doesn't even wear light make-up, and comes to class looking like she just woke up from the back alley behind Waterloo Street, after spending the night on cardboard), probably weighs about 400 pounds (it wouldn't surprise me), and probably drinks beer like a coffeeshop lout, slamming the mug on the table, and then telling everyone how elegant she really is. Hilarious, but true. Ha.

And she hasn't taught us anything at all. Just bringing some mediocre books and pointing. Any Ah Seng from Tiong Bahru could do that for $5. But for most of the time, she just sits there and dispenses sarcasm. Absolutely amazing- a premier arts instituition hires people like these. However, I would like to mention that aside from The Bitch, all the other lecturers are really splendid individuals, who are really passionate about their profession. Class 1V's pretty much lucky to have these lecturers, who are really inspiring educators.

Alright. Signing off now. Be sure to check out Elbo.ws, Yeah Yeah Yeahs are pretty much the talk of the blogs with their new album "Show Your Bones". I shall post some of their new stuff tomorrow, maybe along with some Voxtrot, and Sufjan Stevens. Fantastich. So stay tuned, comprende?

You Have No Faith In Medicine.

2005-09-23T23:59:00.000+08:00

Alright. Lotsa things happening recently. Some pretty good, most pretty eff-ing bad. Like, when I got a Tuna sub when I wanted a Cold-Cut Trio. Like when I didn't win the iPod Nano. But it was pretty hilarious when I and Suffian tricked Akarad into believing that he won, and couldn't get it because he left early.

I wasn't too crazy about the Nano, just wanted to soak up the atmosphere at the Sports Day. But, alas, it was pretty horrid. Poor organisation, messy; and I'm just being nice. I probably had more fun playing with the sachets of mustard that came with the sub. Wait. I did have more fun with the mustard.

The "Goody" bag (yes, they were dumb enough to spell it like that), really made my day. It was absolutely goody; the bag was pretty bloody big, and they gave really splendid stuff, like one packet of tissues, one bottle of mineral water, and one party noise-maker. You know the little 'bell' thingy that parents use to drive their babies nuts? Yeah. That.

And it was were sheduled to end at two in the afternoon, but we were let off at four-thirty in the end. But on the brightside, I became smarter, thanks to Edwin and Akarad. Apparently, they were experts in babe-watching, and gave comments on every passing girl. Especially the one who wore the "Athena" tee.

Okay. Ha, enough about the seven hours of my life that I've wasted. Recently, it seems the world is pretty much becoming like The Drew Carey show. The government wants to ban cigarettes, my dad wants to kill me for having an earstud, Kate Moss being a coke junkie, among many other things. Apparently, the only thing that went right, was Jennifer Aniston dumping Vince Vaughn's sorry ass. Ha, he couldn't Dodge that Ball.

Cancer-bastions are pushing for an absolute ban on tobacco products on our state. Although I don't smoke, I feel that this is an isn't too right. Sure, we'd have a few less rubbish chute fires, but smokers are smokers. They'll have to smoke something. Don't reckon you'll want to see people smoking tea leaves in rolled-up paper, now do you? Smoking kills, but so does farting-in-the-car. If there's a ban on farts, you heard it here first.

And Kate Moss was caught snorting coke with "husband" Pete Doherty, bandmates and the album producer. Kate, cocaine, last I checked, doesn't make you taller. Or smarter (babe-watching does though). Which reminds me. Don't you just find it weird, those Home-Shopping Network ads; Torso-Tigers, Power Rider and the whole lot, seem alot more painful when you've got a tummy-ache?

I have no faith in medicine.

P.S. I liked the ad for the Ginsu knives though. Ha.

*EDIT*: Aww you've gotta see this.

Seems like everyone's a whore. 'Sez Vince Vaughn.

Quotable Quotables.

2005-09-19T00:26:00.000+08:00

Back again. Actually, I meant to post earlier, but my modem and/or phoneline died on me. So there. Sorry. I'm getting it fixed though, but no promises.

Alright, here's the t-shirt that I promised. I was pretty excited about this for the whole of last week. Heat-transfered, but I'll try to burn a silkscreen by this week. If I can find the time.

Back to the post.

I've been hearing lotsa quotable quotes this weekend. About buses, about people from China, and the like. Was watching football awhile ago, Blackburn against the Magpies, and during half-time, the guest commentator, Sir Les Ferdinand was saying, "Goals are like buses, once you get one, the whole lot will follow". Ha, funny that, and there's truth in it.

But the one that really crack my sides was a quote my brother read in a traveller's guide to China. It says that Chinese will eat anything with the backbone facing the sun. We were with my cousin at York Hotel for the buffet, and I nearly had oyster omelette coming through my nose. Then I was trying to think of animals whose backbone didn't face the sun. Obviously, my thoughts landed on old people. But, I don't think the Chinese eat grandparents though... Ha, bollocks that.

In the book, it's called "Culture Shock", by the way, they've also said, they value dog meat above any other meat. When Westerners order dog, they give deer, or some other backbone-facing-the-sun animal, because they say Westerners don't know how to appreciate dog. Oh, they also mentioned that They think Americans are smart, and think Italians stole their noodles and put tomato sauce on it. Ah, a funny bunch, these Chinese-nationals.

But over here in Singapore, the men aren't much better. What happens when one's six-pack becomes a beer keg, bald as a cueball, and nearing the big five-o? Go to Orchard Towers and score with maids. This trend is all over the news nowadays. Whatever happened to Tai-chi? Line-dancing? Bird-singing competitions? Flower horn fishes? Sungei Road Flea Market? Baywatch? Apparently, they've gotten tired of their birds and somehow, Pamela's boobs lost it's novelty.

Alright, got something here for you. Whether you want to swear in Bengali or pick up scantily-clad domestic helpers at tea dances, you could check this out- Insultmonger.com

I gotta go now, but before I sign-off, the Emmy Awards will air at 9am tomorrow, if I'm not wrong. Glam gurls, don't you dare miss it. I know I won't.

Goodnight.

Addiction.

2005-09-13T23:39:00.000+08:00

Well, telly addiction, to be more precise. I have realised, that I'm officially a slave to the goggle box.

Oprah, Larry King Live, Hollywood Squares, the whole lot.

Speaking of Hollywood Squares, have I mentioned it's one of my favourites? Ha, the love affair started this morning. I was, like all you yuppies out there, watching a breakfast show on CNN. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty much against yuppie-mania, but I had the perception that Breakfast Shows make you smarter. I now know Google closed at a $0.50 increase on the Nasdaq yesterday. And that makes me feel so much better about myself. Ha.

Alright, back to Hollywood Squares. It's fantastic. Betcha didn't know Attila the Hun died from a nosebleed while having sex? And what was the technology in law enforcement that was first used by the Scotland Yard? It's the Kilt-Checker. Now who woulda thunk it?

Tuesdays are the worst. Here's my telly schedule; 5:30-CNN, 6:00-The Simpsons, 6:30-The Drew Carey Show, 7:00-Dinner, 7:30-Pride, then I come back at 9:00-Evening News, 10:00-House, 11:00, Las Vegas. Well, it changes ever so often. I do have a life. So much so that I've just got my t-shirt printed today. I absolutely love it. It's got a Cuban cigar on the front. Maybe I'll post it in the next couple of days. If I'm nice. Heh.

Okay, signing off now. G'nite.

*Oh, and by the way, Scotland Yard used the Fingerprint tracing technology first. Gotcha there, didn't I?

Like A Robot From 1984.

2005-09-09T23:37:00.000+08:00

Just woke up from my nap. Head feels like a frappuccino inside. Ah, mocha frapp.

So, here's something I promised. More of my projects. This one was for Basic Drawing. Drawn entirely with charcoal. Apparently, I got this scene in my dream. See, I don't just dream about naughty stuff and mocha frappuccinos; sometimes it's buildings on the horizon melting into moons. Ha.

Alright, won't stay for too long, head feeling two sizes bigger. But there's this band you've gotta check out; The Arctic Monkeys. Indie/Art-Rock, with wicked rhythms, swaggering riffs, and clever (not to mention risque/hedonistic) songwriting, will keep your feet tapping.

They should have tees that say "I Blame the Monkeys", so that you won't get curious stares on the subway when you're tapping your feet with the iPod plugged in. Heh.

On their official site, there's this really cool garage gig video that looked straight out of 1984. What's with purple and pink stage lights anyways?

Arctic Monkeys - Scummy/When The Sun Goes Down
Arctic Monkeys - From The Ritz To The Rubble
Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor (Video) (Highly recommended.)

Enjoy.

Colonel Sanders Eats His Own Chicken Now?

2005-09-09T02:05:00.000+08:00

So, I'm sitting here in front of the computer, quoting Adam Sandler. Can't really sleep now; beginning to wonder whether my coffee filter is still working as well as it should. Bad time for my coffee fix.

Anyways, just caught the best movie of the year. The Longest Yard! Great movie, loads of laughs. L-o-a-d-s. Imagine me laughing non-stop. Okay, stop imagining. The film's pretty good, a hell lot of quotable quotes too. So if you want to be a Country-Grammerin'-Crap-Shootin red-neck geek, this should be good. Or how'd you explain why trucker caps are all the rage?

So much that Pastor-cum-"sexy" singer Ho Yeow Sun has opened a shop hawking Von Dutch goods. I sometimes feel terribly embarassed for her. Why does she adopt a pretentious slang when she obviously can't carry it? B-i-m-b-o.

Alright. It's probably the caffeine talking. So much so that I'm spelling-out w-o-r-d-s. Gotta stop that.

Looking at the flyer for the show, I realise that the lad-ies have stripper names. Eyes to the one on the far left, that's Juicy. Followed by a blonde KimChi. Why would a stripper have a name called KimChi, you ask? Beats the hell outta me.

Here's a cut.

Caretaker: Look in your toilet, I left you a suprise.
Paul Crewe: You took a shit in my toilet?
Caretaker: No, that's what I left in Brucie's toilet.

A track from the show. Swear you'll buy the OST?
AC/DC - Thunderstruck

Oh, and last I checked, it available on DVD on September 20.

G'nite.

So The Drama...

2005-09-04T01:52:00.000+08:00

Woo! Watched Kim Possible: So The Drama today. It's probably one of the coolest movies I've seen this year. HA!

Buenos Nachos a brewing hotspot for Dr. Drakken's evil plots? Evil Happy Meal toys hell bent on world domination? Now who woulda thunk it? I'd love to be Ron Stoppable anytime.

I was never a terribly huge fan of cartoons... we all had our fair share of heroes when we were young. Mine used to be Leonardo of the Ninja Turtles and Peter Venkman of Ghostbusters. Ha. And in preschool, it was Kermit the frog.

And then, when one grows older, suddenly cartoons become "uncool" all of a sudden. Thanks to a tradition called "peer pressure". I've never succumbed to it though, more like grew out of it.

As you grow older, your interests change. Begin to watch blockbusters, appreciate music, and the like. But I'm glad my heroes weren't Vin Diesel or Michael Bay, they were Bill Murray and Wes Anderson. Oh yeah, and after today, Ron Stoppable!

LCD Soundsystem - "Daft Punk is Playing At My House"
LCD Soundsystem - "Tribulations"

One Big Holiday.

2005-09-02T14:09:00.000+08:00

Ha. I'm back, finally. After a long hiatus; last minute rushing projects at my school, and managing only a total of five hours of sleep in the last three consecutive days, I was absolutely badgered.

And the holiday is finally here, so I reckon you'll see daily posts. I'll try to post my final projects over the next few days, so check back won't you?

Alright, this picture you see on the left is for my subject, "Principle of Design". The lecturer was very vague in explaining the final project to us, so I'd exploited that. He (sorta) wanted us to trace "Masterpice" (in his words) works and add our own texture. Asked us to source it out in the library, and he told us to look for 'Pop Art'. Which was really surprising, that, because he threw out every Andy Warhol piece I showed him. Most of us just lapped up Picasso, so I decided to do something entirely different, from scratch.

There's absolutely nothing creative about tracing someone's art, and adding your texture, which most ripped out from texture books in the library. I decided to push the envelope then, making something that looked extremely different from the others. And voila, I created this, using Photoshop. And when I went to submit my work, I saw everyone elses' piece. Ripped-off textures crammed in every space they can find. And in all honesty, it was just a melange of textures overlapping textures. I'll give you a fiver if you could make out any shape at all. Everyone cloned everyone. With the exception of Alvin's (so bloody good, that it was kept for future references.) At that point, I reckoned I was going to fail. I didn't, as it turned out, but I got a "See Me!" behind my piece. I had used textures, so I couldn't fail anyways. Ha.

It was around midnight when I was doing this, and Tricky Woo's "Fly The Orient" was playing on the iPod, after which- Robbers On High Street's "Japanese Girls" followed. Hence I decided on an oriental theme. Anyways, enough with me. Tricky Woo's sound; abit post-punk, art rock with the most menacingly sand-paperly voice since Bryan Adams. Lotsa great stuff pouring out of Canada nowadays, and it's not just the maple syrup. The New Pornographers, Mike Myers...

Robbers On High Street are... really fantastic. I don't want to explain their sound, because words can't do it justice. Just sample the tracks below. Opened for Ben Kweller recently. You won't bloody regret it. Alright, I'll try to classify them anyways; a swaggering sound, wicked rhythms and a bastardization of pop, indie and art-rock.

Before I sign off, here's another band you should know about- The Cribs. Opened for The Kaiser Chiefs and the Chiefs admitted that they were abit inspired by them. NME 'sez "The Cribs are ready to tear rock a new arsehole" With bands like Simple Plan and Rooster, who claimed that they were taking rock and roll back to it roots (now what are rock and roll roots anyway? Shame on you, Rooster), rock needs a new arse hole.

Aite. Signing off.
See you tomorrow; same time, same channel.

Robbers On High Street - "Spanish Teeth"
Robbers On High Street - "Japanese Girls"
The Cribs - "Baby Don't Sweat"
The Cribs - "Another Number"
The Cribs - "Hey Scenesters" (Video)

I'd never...

2005-08-21T20:16:00.000+08:00

What a bloody bastard of a day. I thought there was going to be nothing worse than my 17th birthday, but this bloody tops it. Looks like we have a new champion.

Now, I'm not really a "tell-you-what-happened-today" kinda blogger, I'm more of a "I-don't-know-what-happened, but-let's-bloody-talk-about-it-anyway" person. Alright, was at Ikea today, got a couple of things there, but not a swivel chair. My bloody parents have been wanting to buy me a swivel chair since LAST year, but haven't got round to. When I wanted to buy it with my own money, they said Ikea's chairs were lousy. They said to get it from vHive. They'll keep dithering and dithering, and in the end, no chair. Absolutely unbelievable.

Later, they had me to go fetch them some some hot-dogs and drinks. After queuing and hauling a whole load of dogs and drinks (4 dogs and 4 drinks to be exact), they bloody disappeared. I tried to call them, but my cell kept showing "Call Failed, Retry?" What a bitch. When I finally found them, I said they should have at least wait near the cafe's entrance or at least help me carry some things. Then, my father made it seem like my fault in his trademark "what-the-fuck" voice. For what? For helping to buy food? Arrgh. Word of advice: next time your family wants to go out, act like you've broke a leg or something. Man, I'm was bloody pissed, I threw the hot-dog away.

When I thought I'd seen the worst of today, I went home and assembled my newly acquired clothes rack. While trying to cut open the fibre cable, I accidently stabbed myself in the leg with my utility knife. Good thing it wasn't too deep.

In the end, I didn't get my chair (again), didn't get to eat, and got stabbed. What a day.

On a lighter note, I really enjoyed my Saturday. Had the usual football in the morning. Whoa, that was fun. There were a few teams there, and we played knock-out rounds. Concede two goals, and your team is out. We had two teams, and when we went in, kept shooting wayward, so that nobody else could play. Ha. A thirty-plus minute street soccer game. Lovin' it.

Later, met up with me friends for dinner and then the football game. And Clarance kept lamenting that he was one of the five people you'll meet in heaven. He's hilarious.

Went to The Labyrnith for the game. Jie Long, Dennis and Josh played pool and watch the game, while I just ate, drank, and watched the game. Heh. And, Clarance wes telling me how cute the supermarket cashier was, and how he charmed the socks off her.

I had been nursing a bad bout of cold and a sore throat the whole week, and I think the mixed nuts and the Heineken made it worse. Ha. But I'll recover. And I had a hot-dog yesterday (Thanks Clarance!).

Laziness.

2005-08-14T22:27:00.000+08:00

I don't know what's gotten into me. Haven't used any hair-styling products, for like four consequtive days now. Too lazy to gussy up, and too lazy to even wear my contacts today. My teacher once said to me, "I would've introduced my niece to you, but..." Well, the rest I forget. Must've been my reluctance to hand-up homework, I guess. So kids, please do your homework. Or you'll end up like me.

What ever happened to the good 'ol days? I used to style my hair religiously. I used to wear contacts everyday. Now instead of looking like Willy Wonka, I look like Grandpa Joe. Yes, with those dorky spectacles. I used to be hardworking. Heh.

Well, alright, I wasn't too enthusiastic about Math.

Before you go look up the Bible for "Thou Shall Not Idolise Hair", here's something I promised. No, I haven't got a niece. I promised to tell you about my school... *drum roll* ...and why I love it.

It's pretty cool, all of it. there's a lecturer that picks his nose in the staff room while another student watches in awe, there's that canteen lady who never showers (how'd you explain the fact that she's always in her PJs?), there's an adorable kindergarten inside, where kids do song mash-ups ("That Little Brown Dog" X "Twinkle- Twinkle Little Star"), a lecturer who think that "eyebrows" are "eyelashes", and a lecturer dude who looks like Chow Yun Fat. The elevator moves dead slowly, and the Fireman's lift hardly works. Lovin' it. Ha.

And yes, before I forget. I got you some Kaiser Chiefs tracks. Fantastic band, this. Needs no introduction. Especially to the Elland Road faithful. Did you know that they were named after our Chief, Lucas Radebe? All the more you should love these fellas. If you don't know them, make haste and sample these tracks.

Kaiser Chiefs - Saturday Night
Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict a Riot

And remember to do your homework. Heh.

Up The Bracket.

2005-08-11T23:45:00.000+08:00

The Bravery. Thats an improvement (although I'm not into them), a milestone even. Previously, we only had crap teeny-bopper acts like Simple Plan, Blue, and the like. The Eagles were a reward, but you can't blame the organisers though; most Singaporeans think rock starts and stops at Avril. And don't even get me started on My Chemical Romance. Bunch of pos-

Anyways, would really love for the Strokes, Rilo Kiley, The New Pornographers and the like to drop by. Or maybe an indie fest even (Face it. BayBeats is shit.). Maybe even get the Libertines to come, so that we can slag Barat off by chanting "Where's Pete?"

Speaking of The Libertine s, I feel really sorry for Barat. Pete Doherty (inset) is making a complete arse of himself. Barat has forgiven him time and time again, and will gladly welcome him back. If Pete wants to, of course. They made the best music together, and now what, Pete; Babyshambles? He has definately got a precocious talent, but so far, it hasn't really been showing at Babyshambles. Or not yet at least. The media's really having a field day, even branding him the modern-day Sid Vicious. Come on now.

"Aren't you Bob Dildo?" Sid once took a knife and confronted Dylan. Don't think Pete's that crazy though, save for burglary. Heh.

Oh yeah, and maybe cutting himself even. *News Of The World: Doherty Slashes Himself With Broken Glass*

Babyshambles: Fuck Forever
The Libertines: Can't Stand Me Now

* Yeah, and if you come back here tomorrow, I will probably tell you why I love my school. Ha.

Do You Want To? Didn't think so.

2005-08-09T15:34:00.000+08:00

Alright. Small errata. FF's album is "You Could Have It So Much Better... With Franz Ferdinand". Official release date October 3rd. Single "Do You Want To" will be released on 19th September.

Terribly sorry for the mistakes, but it was at 3a.m. Probably was half-asleep. Anyways, I've got you the FF songs. 'Ere you go.

Franz Ferdinand - "Do You Want To" (Live)
Franz Ferdinand - "I'm Your Villan" (Live)
Franz Ferdinand - "Walk Away" (Demo)

Who loves you? Heh.

Anyways, local news here, you can get CDs at bargain prices at the Orchard MRT. Well, if you don't want to believe me, I could argue with you, but my horoscope says not to. Ha. If you didn't know already, it's by Gramophone. Something like a guerilla-store concept, that. Stocks couple of good albums, if you keep your eyes peeled. Stocks come fortnightly (according to them). They've got Ash, The Walkmen, Ron Sexsmith, Athlete, and a couple of others more. Ryan Adams' "Cold Roses" at SGD12.90? Can't complain.

Yeah, if you know where I could score bargains (will post it, if its good), or just want to rant, drop me a comment.

Until next time, then.
(By the way, I don't believe in horoscopes...)

Living For The Weekend!

2005-08-09T03:08:00.000+08:00

New news! I bought The HARD-Fi album today, "Stars of CCTV" and bloody hell. Fantastic, this. One stomper of an album. First heard of them on "My Kentucky Blog", I reckon. Their song "Cash Machine", amazing. I've sourced a couple of their tracks for you to sample. After listening, you definately must buy this LP. 'Ere's a review for you. If you like Bloc Party, you might be interested in this...

HARD-Fi - Living For The Weekend
HARD-Fi - Stronger

Anyways, lotsa new albums coming up. Franz Ferdinand's should be hitting the stores before the year ends. Confirmed tracks include "I'm Your Villan" and "Do You Want To". These tracks are floating somewhere, haven't got 'round to look for it yet. Performed live at Einslive. The LP will be called "You Could Have It So Much Better... With Franz Ferdinand", instead of colour-coding the albums, which was what they wanted earlier. The single, "Do You Want To" will be released on 19th Sept.

The album's not out yet though, so in the meantime, do try The Blood Arm. They've got a really wicked sound. Highly rated by FF's Alex Kapranos; they opened for FF a couple shows, I should think. There are demos on their site you can download. They're an L.A. band, but they sound like they've got their leg (or their blood arm, rather), stuck in Britain.

Enjoy.

Down Like Disco.

2005-08-09T01:22:00.000+08:00

Aite. Maiden post. Virgin post. Whatever floats your boat. Never really like blogging, it's a crazed bitch really. But hey, these are crazy times; we're gonna have a casino, The Bravery's actually in Singapore, and a $600k p.a. salary is peanuts, apparently.

Not a fan of The Bravery, but thumbs-up to them for dropping by. Not everyday do we get indie (well, not actually, but still.) bands gracing our shores. Wanted to go, but thankfully I didn't. Heard they were rubbish when playing live, and they didn't do too well here either, or so I've heard... Now The Strokes promised to tour places they've not been to before, so I'm gonna keep me fingers crossed.

Dropped my bloody iPod earphones today, and they were all conked out. Now there's like a FARKING buzzing sound in me right earphone. Pissed, that. Now all my music sounds "Live". Fark.

I've just gotten me a new pet peeve recently. What's with people and the reluctance to change clothes? I've noticed some people (in school, really) wearing the same outfits for consecutive days... I've got the slightest feeling that these fellas don't shower. Ugh.

Yeah, and Geraldine's been bugging me to tell her who me crush is. No can do, man. It's for yuks anyways; don't think the person has any interest in me. Why? Picture this: I look like a koala's butt, with whipped cream and a handlebar moustache. Heh. Maybe it's because I always want things I can't get. Maybe it's because I'm too choosy. Maybe it's because I took advice from 'Alfie'. *Laughs* Another lonely New Year's party again, I guess. I might have better luck finding a 'Golden Ticket' in me chocolate. Don't think that Kit-Kat has them though; I'm on my fifth pack and still nothing.

Fark. I'm gonna try M&Ms.