29.12.07

First it should be mentioned that this is partially Sophie's fault. She did show me that damned video. Which made me add the song. Which eventually led to my current situation. So really it's entirely Sophie's fault. :nods:
Another thing should be pointed out as well. Two of the members of McFly have been on NMTB and Simon Amstell (current host) was semi-featured in the damned video. :crickets: Oh fuck it, I really like that stupid McFly song and I don't care who knows it. :raspberry:
This, what I'm about to "quote" is the best characterization of the Doctor (tenth Doctor) I've ever read. And I've read a lot of DW fan fiction in my time as an avid DW fan, so that's saying something. In any event it's from a fic by goldy_dollar on LiveJournal:
Blimey, they were turning into one of those annoying couples always joined at the hip. Maybe they should get permanently attached and get on with it. YES! Brilliant! Because then if she got pulled into a parallel world again, he’d have no choice but to go with her. The only question was, Where to get attached? As best as memory served—and he did have an extraordinarily good one—these operations could be very painful.

He thought about it. Feet were out—that would make running nearly impossible. Hips, while initially a good thought, would make it difficult to maneuver out of tight spots. Definitely not hands, he needed his free for too many things.

OH! An elbow! That didn’t sound so bad.

At this point I feel one last thing should be pointed out. You see I'm currently in desperate need of a love life, or even just a life, so I'm being a bit mushy. I blame Starter for 10 which, while being absolutely brilliant, has fuelled this mushy-ness. Hopefully this mushy-ness will end soon and I can get back to being a bitter old woman.
Ta for now.

27.12.07

Christmas Week Update

I can't believe it's only Thursday. It feels like it should be Friday, if only so I could imagine that my grandparents would be leaving tomorrow. Alas I have another two days of them. Oh well.
So I finally got to watch this year's Doctor Who Christmas special and I found it to be incredibly depressing. Sure the Doctor saves the Earth and Mr. Cooper gets to start his life over, but honestly given the huge number of people who died in the process, including Kylie Minogue's character, it just doesn't cut it. The episode, entitled "Voyage of the Damned," should have just been called "A Great Bloody Number of Deaths" or, as I told my sister, "Death." The main plot point is death with the underlying theme of universal right to marriage (cyborg = gay.) Truly depressing I tell you, truly depressing.
In happier Who news, here's a link to the season 4 trailer. It hints at stupid romance shit with Donna, but I don't believe it for a minute and will cry if that is the case. Overall though it looks brilliant.
As long as I've been reading Filter (going on three years now) they've done a Top Ten records for every day of December, as decided by an artist of the magazine's choice. So, for the 26th day of December they brought in Joe Jackson, forefather of New Wave and generally creepy looking guy. Of all the twenty bazillion Top X record lists I've read in the past month, Mr. Jackson's was the only one to feature YTAM. Granted, I wasn't expecting t'Chiefs to be in many of the lists given the lack lustre reviews the album received, but it's still rather cool to see that someone other than myself appreciated YTAM. Even if the dude is incredibly creepy looking.
Ever not know the lyrics to a song? Or think you know the lyrics to a song and then find out your wrong? I have. For instance, I continue that the first line of "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" goes like so: "Joan was quizzical/Studied metaphysical science in the home." The real lyrics go like so: "Joan was quizzical/Studied pataphysical science in the home." Now mine is more realistic because metaphysical sciences actually exist as compared to pataphysical, but the point is, I made up the lyrics to make sense to me. This, according to the nifty people at the mental_floss blog, is called a mondegreen. Interesting, no?
I didn't get Once for Christmas. I'm going to get a copy anyway, because I can't go back to school without it. How else will I torture Allison? I did, however, receive Jeeves and Wooster from Sophie, which will be fun. Mwhahahahahahaha.
To finish off the post, I've pictures. Lots of them. That I want to show off. Have fun. (Sorry for all of them being rather big, but it's worth it)

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Maximo Park's Limited Edition Beer: For the True Indie Enthusiast

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A Cool Castle in Scotland (from this list)

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Leeds Castle, which is in Leeds, Kent, not Leeds, West Yorkshire :frowns deeply:

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Look, it's real pilot fish! Oh to be Whovian
And...

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The Stupidest Pool I've Ever Seen (taken by the drummer of Keane, Richard Hughes)

22.12.07

Just Something Silly

I'm procrastinating on cleaning up my bathroom, so here's something I did yesterday.








Take the Sci fi sounds quiz I received 56 credits on
The Sci Fi Sounds Quiz

How much of a Sci-Fi geek are you?
Guess the Sci-Fi Movie Sounds hereCanon powershot

The sad thing is that I wish I had scored higher. Anyway, just something silly. (Sorry if it looks like crap, but I'm not sure how to fix it.)

21.12.07

Because Avoidance is So Much Better

A
- Available: yes
- Age: 19
- Annoyance: my life at the moment
- Animal: Dog
- Actor: Michael Sheen

B
- Beer: not that I drink, but Red Stripe
- Birthday/Birthplace: May 10, Capitol Hill (Washington DC)
- Best Friends: n/a, don't want to discuss really
- Body Part on opposite sex: Eyes
- Best feeling in the world: hearing really good music for the first time
- Blind or Deaf: Blind
- Best weather: Mid 60's (F)
- Been in Love: not really
- Been bitched out?: not really
- Been on stage?: yup
- Believe in yourself?: sometimes
- Believe in life on other planets: not entirely sure (god I'm being neutral today)
- Believe in miracles: Sometimes
- Believe in Magic: no
- Believe in God: believe in a higher power
- Believe in Satan: only when I'm damning people
- Believe in Santa: no
- Believe in Ghosts/spirits: nein
- Believe in Evolution: Yes

C
- Car: don't have one, but want a mini cooper and I don't what you say, it's what I want
- Candy: Reese's or Lindt chocolate
- Colour: :rolls eyes: green
- Cried in school: sadly
- Chocolate/Vanilla: CHOCOLATE, now please
- Chinese/Mexican: both muchos gracias
- Cake or pie: cake
- Country to visit: England, Scotland, Wales, or Ireland, preferably all
- Crushes at the moment: no

D
- Day or Night: Night
- Dream vehicle: mini cooper, like I said before
- Danced: a couple months ago to Patrick Wolf and Spoon
- Dance in the rain?: no
- Do the splits?: use to be able to

E
- Eggs: in my cake please
- Eyes: my eyes? hazel green. dream eyes? blue
- Everyone has a: pair of glasses
- Ever failed a class? I've failed quarters, but not whole classes
F
- First crush: umm...preschool
- Full name: no, you don't get to know that
- First thoughts waking up: uuuuhhhhh
- Food: Pizza and lots of

G
- Greatest Fear: never going back to London
- Giver or taker: Take
- Goals: Live in London, see Franz Ferdinand live
- Gum: sure, why not
- Get along with your parents?: I'm not talking about that
- Good luck charm: Kaiser Chiefs

In guys/girls
Eye colour: Blue
Hair Colour: Ginger/dirty blonde/brown
Height: 5'9" or taller
Clothing Style: normal
Characteristics: musical (or good taste in music) and wicked intelligent

H
- Hair Colour: dark brown with silver strands (damn my father)
- Height: 5'10"
- Happy: when I'm not at home
- Holiday: Christmas
- How do you want to die: happy
- Health freak?: No
- Hate: hate is a very strong word...

I
- Ice Cream: Stone Cold creamery chocolate devotion
- Instrument: clarinet/voice

J
- Jewelry: none at the moment, usually a ring
- Job: student aide to the band director at UMW

K
- Kids: :sigh: probably
- Kickboxing or karate: Karate
- Keep a journal?: oh god yes

L
- Longest Car Ride: anything in a yellow bus
- Love: music, music, my friends, music, the UK
- Letter: dunno
- Laughed so hard you cried: not in a very, very long time
- Love at first sight: :sigh: a girl can wish

M
- Milk flavor: chocolate
- Movie: Once
- Mooned anyone?: no
- Marriage: yes
- Motion sickness? sometimes, if I'm reading
- McD’s or BK: McD's all the way, if I can't have Sonic

N
- Number of Siblings: 1 older fucked up sister
- Number of Piercings: two
- Number: 42

O
- Overused Phrases: bugger
- One wish: To live in London or Glasgow
- One phobia: heights

P
- Place you’d like to live: London, Leeds, Glasgow, Cardiff
- Perfect Pizza: lots of cheese, lots of pepperoni, lots of cheese
- Pepsi/Coke: Diet Coke or Dr. Pepper

Q
- Quail: umm...point?
- Questionnaires: something to keep my mind occupied

R
- Reason to cry: too many
- Reality T.V.: America's Next Top Model, Top Chef
- Radio Station: none thank you
- Roll your tongue in a circle? sort of yeah

S
- Song: anything by KC or Brazil as covered by Arcade Fire
- Shoe size: 10
- Salad Dressing: fat free ranch
- Sushi: no thanks
- Skipped school: only since entering college
- Slept outside: no
- Seen a dead body?: no
- Smoked?: never, not in a million years
- Skinny dipped? never, not in a million years
- Shower daily? no
- Sing well?: People tend to think that
- In the shower? not any more
- Swear?: :rolls eyes:
- Stuffed Animals?: no
- Single/Group dates: prefer single
- Strawberries/Blueberries: strawberries, though I don't really like either
- Scientists need to invent: teleportation
- Time for bed: when I'm sleepy
- Thunderstorms: wake me up
- TV: the boob tube keeps my mind occupied, tanks
- Touch your tongue to your nose:? yuppers
- Unpredictable: life

V
- Vegetable you hate: most
- Vegetable you love: salad, carrots...corn
- Vacation spot: London (how many times do I have to say that before you lot get the point?)

W
- Weakness: chocolate, Kaiser Chiefs
- When you grow up: music critic/radio dj
- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: not a one
- Who makes you laugh the most: Jasmine
- Worst feeling: right now
- Wanted to be a model?: god no
- Where do we go when we die: I don't think about it to be honest
- Worst weather: cold, drippy, not quite rain, but if you stay in it long enough it will get you wet rain

X
-X-Rays: creepy, my bones or Kaiser Chiefs video

Y
-Year it is now: 2007
-Yellow: mellow (quite rightly)

Z
- Zoo animal: god they all smell...frog
- Zodiac sign: Taurus

LAST PERSON WHO…
1. Slept in a bed beside you? me, myself, and I
2. Last person to see you cry? Allison, unfortunately
3. Went to the movies with you? technically Mike
4. You went to the mall with? Allison, Meg, and Mike
5. You went to dinner with? Sophie
6. You talked to on the phone? not sure to be honest
7. Made you laugh? either Alex, Jasmine or Chelsea

20.12.07

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Shit, has it really been a week since I last updated. Oh...well not that much has happened. I hung out with my friends on Monday and Wednesday, saw Vagtsy on Wednesday which was uber-spiffy. I re-re-realized why I really, really dislike my father which was just a lovely experience, per usual. Amazingly enough I've spent most of my time doing absolutely nothing and ogling in amazement at how quickly the time passes and yet how slowly it goes at the same time. I'm hoping that the rest of my time at home goes by in the same manner. It's not that I don't like being at home, I just don't like being with the people who happen to be in my home. Truth of the matter is, if it weren't for the fact that I really, really dislike one of my room mates I would be happier at school than I am at home. Which is incredibly sad. Oh well.
So this has been an interesting week in music news. First Britney Spears' little sister gets pregnant at the ripe old age of 16, then it's announced that Lily Allen is preggers as well. And while I'm happy for Ms. Allen, I wonder, why no announcement on your website? I mean if Jamie Lynn Spears can fucking announce her pregnancy through OK! Magazine it only seems right that Lily could say something that isn't through her PR people. Seems only fair. In any event, congratz to Lily.
It seems Amy Winehouse was arrested recently as part of the criminal investigation involving her husband, Mr. I Wish I Was Pete Doherty. But the arrest isn't what I care about. It's the absolutely perfect way that the AV Club reported the arrest. You see, the sad thing with Ms. Winehouse is that she's incredibly talented and were it not for that fact that she attracts trouble like I attract nut-cases, that is what she would be known for. Sadly, she's not known for her amazing voice and song writing talents, in fact she's mainly known for her antics and it's all very sad in my view and, it seems, the AV Club. :sigh:
:sigh: I would write about the AV Club's best movie lists, but it would be redundant. I'll write about them later. Ta.

14.12.07

Quote-alicious

On my LiveJournal profile page I have a section called "Quote-alicious" that has many, many zany quotes that I rather like. The quotes come from a mirade of places and most of the them are rather humurous. Since I have nothing else to do today, I'm going to post them here. Have fun!

Quote-alicious!!
"FUTILTIY A-KAKAKAKA" How Art Rock Are You? Quiz in the NME Yearbook
"Trees falling on me, oh coal in 3 million years!" Paraphrasing of a line from Peter Cook in "Beyond the Fringe"
"A bit of harmless mind alteration" - Wallace in "Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit
"It smells like freshly-baked cookies... but these cookies... are EEEVIL!" -Mezzo Forte, crack anime, english dub (thanks dichigo/mar)
"Buggrit. Millenium hand and shrimp" - Foul Ole Ron from the Discworld
"Roses are red/Violets are blue/I like corn flakes/Can you swim?" - Prof. Trethewey during class
"Nuts to your mice" - Ford Prefect
"An hour of regret in a long and fruitless life full of bad decisions, why did I leave that man he clearly loved me, why didn't I take that job it would have set me up for life..." - Mark Lamarr on Never Mind the Buzzcocks; season 16, episode 7
"He'll squeeze my face again my brains will come out my nose and I'll die" - Fran from Black Books
"Well quite frankly you're doomed, you and all the shy people" - Bernard from Black Books
"Sparkles, flowers, and rape hurrah!" - Me, talking to Jasmine on the phone
"Oh, where am I? I feel faint..." - Wooster in The Ties that Bind
"Dire Strait's Mark Knophler had a dinosaur named after him, the dinosaur responded 'Jesus, haven't you got anything more current?' Another dinosaur asked 'Who’s Jesus?' and Jesus responded 'There are no dinosaurs!'" - Simon Amstell on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, season 20, episode 1
"Jesus was a Communist" - Tom K (in response to the above quote)
"Festering like a pit bull" - Tom R
"Take drugs/Don't sleep/Have contempt for those you meet" - "I'm Alright Me", the Cribs
"I question your criteria for calling it kabady, 'cuz why then is football not called the referee's a wanker?" - Jack Dee on "The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz"
"I'm 40 and I take naps!" - Ted Forth from Sally Forth, 12/14/07

13.12.07

When I Get Home

The first thing, after probably sleeping, will to be sing without inhibition to whatever the hell I want. First damn thing.

In Loo of Actual Work

So it seems that the year is finally ending. Best of lists are being posted, Christmas cheer has reached its nauseating peak and CD releases have all but ended until 2008. Exams are coming to an end as well and the packing up of dorm rooms for a month at home has begun. Yes my dear readers, the end is nigh and what better to honour it than by posting a list of the hottest indie rockers. Well that's how Stereogum decided to celebrate the end and having looked at said list, I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed. It should be noted that I didn't know most of the people on this list, just their bands, so my evaluation probably isn't the fairest. Also, Feist won out over Jenny Lewis which just doesn't make sense. And of the guys I know on the list, none of them seem particularly attractive, except Mark Ronson. Who is incredibly attractive. But then again I've always had an unusual taste in men.
Oh right, here's a link to the AV Clubs posting of Stereogum's list. Completely forgot about that in my critique of the damn thing. Sorry.
So Allison hasn't been keeping regular sleeping hours which means that I've basically been "working" in the dark for the past few days. Yesterday was probably the worst because she didn't get to bed until 7am and so slept until 4 in the afternoon. Eventually I just gave up on trying to be quite and not have any light around 3, but that means that I spent most of the day in the dark. Granted I have perfected the art of watching things on YouTube whilst having a rather sluggish internet connection, so that's certainly a plus.
Well that's it really. I've become obsessed with a new game called Mad Virus but I can't get past level 5 which is rather sad. I've got my music theory exam tomorrow which means I have to get a blue book which means venturing outside. Yup. That's it. Ta for now loves.

11.12.07

For some reason I started watching another British comedy yesterday. Now my internal monologue sounds like an Irishman and my speech has the odd Irish inflection. Damn you Roy!!
In other news, people in the music department keep flinging scholarships at me. Not that it's a bad thing or anything, but I just don't get why they think I'm a good candidate. I do horribly in auditions and don't work that hard at the clarinet. I haven't practised in over a week and I usually only practice once or twice a week at the most. Besides, scholarships usually entail getting good grades, and it's a bloody miracle that I'm doing well this semester, honest to God. I am truly befuddled. But don't tell anyone because they'd think I'm crazy.
I've taken to tapping out the rhythms of the songs I'm listening to in loo of actually singing them, since I can't really do that any more. Allison has created a cave for herself to live in during finals by placing a pink bed sheet over the side of her bed. I look over and see nothing but pink, which is bizarre in and of itself, but then if Allison's bed is completely covered it looks like I have a really tall bed. It's very strange.
I've got to write this self evaluation for my seminar and I've no clue what to say. I talked a lot in class and did most of the reading, but my "commitment" to the class wasn't spectacular, at least in terms of the presentations. I put almost no effort into the last one and the one before that only got a marginal amount of effort. I just writing these kind of things because I never know what to say and really I'm my harshest critic and so my tendency is to say horrible things about myself. I dunno.
I should probably watch some NMTB just to get the Irish out of my head. At least then I'll have a Brit in there instead.

9.12.07

Things I Would Like To Say/Do To Allison That I Can't Because I Still Have a Week Left

  • Fuck you, you stupid bitch
  • No, I will not singing softer, go fuck yourself
  • You may have more exams, but at least I'll pass all of mine
  • How about you go to the library you dumb fuck
  • Why can't you be more like Cecilia?
  • :Takes away super long internet cable: :raspberry:
  • :Pointedly sings things in her direction:
  • What's that? I can't hear you over your crap taste in music, whore
  • [After hiding the remote control] Oh, yeah. You don't get to watch or use the TV any more. New rule.
  • I can't see you, therefore you don't exist :begins singing at top of lungs:
  • It's a shame I can't move out. Then I wouldn't have to deal with your bitchy whining, twat
  • Your taste in everything sucks and you have no culture. Having seen The Holy Grail means nothing
  • :Shoves q-tips in her ears:
  • :Blasts the Cribs at 5 o'clock in the morning:
  • I hope Charlie gives you syphilis and you die*
  • :Takes over all the room in front of the bunk beds:
  • You're about as thick as two short planks and as useful as a chocolate teapot
  • :Kills with mind:
  • [After killing with mind]Eejit

*A paraphrase of the following quote: "I hope they catch AIDS and die" (said by Oasis lead guitarist Noel Gallagher about Damon Albarn and Alex James of the band Blur)

Random Statements While I Wait For Things To Load

You know whose a good friend? Clark. You know why? Because he introduced me to Red vs. Blue, possibly the most hilarious thing I've ever seen, besides NMTB and Black Books. I was laughing my ass off last night and it's a damn shame the school's internet isn't faster because we could have watched more than we did if the internet was faster. But yeah, Red vs. Blue. Look for it on YouTube or on their site. It's pure brilliance.
I'm done with MacGamut for the semester. I finished yesterday which makes me happy since it's not due until Wednesday. Of course I haven't really studied at all for my history exam tomorrow, but I'll do that later. Anyway, I'm done with MacGamut!! Yay-ness!!!
I haven't listened to Back to Black in awhile and now that I'm listening to it, I think Amy Winehouse should win all the Grammy's she's nominated for. She should win awards she's not nominated for, except of course of best soundtrack because we all know Once has to win that one. Anyway, brilliant album, should definitely win multiple awards.
That's it.

7.12.07

I'm Really Tired

Is it so unreasonable to want to go to bed before midnight? Is it really that unreasonable to expect the people around you to make certain "sacrifices" like listening to music with headphones when you're trying to go to sleep? I only ask out of curiosity.
On a completely different note, raise you're hand if you knew that Gloria Gaynor did a version of "How High the Moon." I didn't. It's fun and I almost want to change my interpretation to fit her's, just to prove a point to Prof. Gately. But I won't. It's more fun to be a slacker.
So the Grammy nominations were announced recently (either today or last night, I'm not sure) but Amy Winehouse was nominated in all the categories including country, rap, and soundtracks. No, that's a lie. She was just nominated for best album, best record, best song, best new artist, best pop vocal album, and best female pop vocal performance. Meanwhile Lily Allen was nominated for best alternative album which confuses me and Kanye West was nominated for a shit load of awards as well. I'm just interested to see how Ms. Winehouse does in her home country when award season comes along. Furthermore, if Once doesn't win for best "COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR A MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION, OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA" I'm going to go crazy. I like Across the Universe but Once is the best thing to ever happen to the world and should not lose this award. It should also win for best movie, best actor, best actress, and best song. Once should win all awards. Except the ones Kaiser Chiefs are nominated for, because they should win those. [goes a little bit more crazy than she already was]
So I missed my radio show on Wednesday because of my voice final. I was mess before the performance, a mess during the performance, and a mess after the performance which is why I skipped the radio. Things would have gone horribly wrong and I didn't really need that, so instead I relaxed in my room and watched Black Books. Yesterday was rather crappy and not just because of the weather. I spent numerous hours in Pollard aimlessly trying to find things to do while I waited for band to happen. I then used what little brain wattage I had left to input data into the music library database which was both a painful and exceedingly boring task. From there, after what was left of my brain exited my ears into a puddle, I did absolutely jack shit for the rest of the day. Then around 10:30 I decided I wanted to sleep. I slept for about a hour and then proceeded to stay up for the next two hours because the world hates me. Since then I've done jack shit. I'm in a very bad mood if you can't tell and have yet to decide what I'm going to do about it besides get myself some chocolate and go to the last class I have today. Hopefully Buzzcocks will be involved. Also I've completely forgotten how to spell. Hurrah for me.
I mean is it really so much to ask for someone to turn off their music at 1 in the morning? Honestly?

3.12.07

Perfect Situation

So take me to winter, as if it was discontent I'd see/I'll live with the madmen there and pull my hair/'cause lunacy is everything I need/It's not just that I'm selfish and scared/it's not just that I'm so unprepared/It's just you'd think I'd grow out of this, wouldn't you? --- "Bye, Bye Baby" OK Go
Long days make me tense. Long days with no breaks make me tense. Exams and end of the semester things make me tense. When I get tense, I'm more likely to lash out, to separate myself from the pack. It's a self-defence me mechanism that saves the people from the worst of my anger and frustration. The thing is, most people wouldn't understand that. They would think that I'm being a bitch and a snob. Which is an understandable reaction if you don't know me.
Don't get me wrong... --- "Don't Get Me Wrong" The Pretenders
I had a shitty day. I had two projects due and the music lab was having issues with its printer and there are only five computers to being with so you can probably see where this is going. I have my voice final on Wednesday and am currently working on transposing one of my pieces down a minor third and I still need to memorize the other one. I didn't get to go to my room until 4ish this afternoon and wasn't exactly in the mood to socialize, but I was willing to give up my down for normal human interaction. And then we somehow get to the of how much better the north is. Now I'm not exactly what you would call a patriot and quite frankly it's common knowledge that I want to leave this country as soon as I can. But this still my "hometown" and I think bashing a part of this country is wrong. The reason I think this is because the whole country sucks. Bashing one particular section is idiotic and bashing it for something that ended over a hundred years ago even more idiotic. Just because a place isn't exactly like where you're from doesn't make it a worse place, it just makes it a different place. Mind you, a coherent argument like that would have meant nothing earlier. But that little argument wouldn't have stopped me from the socializing. But then I remembered I had my radio show and so I went to get the key. Key wasn't there and then I realized I had forgotten my cds. So, after looking at the time and estimating how much I needed and how long certain activities would take, I decided to have carry out dinner. It didn't having anything to do with the flare up. Well maybe a little. But mostly I just wanted my show to start on time. Not that it did.
Tell me there's a logic out there... --- "Perfect Situation" Weezer
So, after my take-away dinner, after my multiple walks to and from the police station, after my show, I come back to the room and Allison is in grump mode. Completely ignores me. I assume she's made, but since I had already decided to block her out, and Cecilia's in the room, I don't say anything. But, after she leaves and I've been brooding for awhile, I realize I'm in a very similar situation to one I've been in before with Allison. I have to apologize before things escalate into a fight of who can remain silent and stand the tension longer. Thing is, I don't think I should have to apologize. I didn't do anything wrong and it really pisses me off that I'm the one having to apologize. Not that I necessarily think Allison has to apologize, there just shouldn't have to be any apologies. But that's not how things work sadly and so I'm just going to have to grin and bear it.
But I'm too full to swallow my pride... --- "Can't Stand Losing You" The Police

1.12.07

The Cribs

The first time I heard the Cribs I didn't know what to expect. I only knew anything about them because the band I was going to see, Kaiser Chiefs (fake shock), had been singing their praises for more than a few weeks. I assumed they'd be similar in style to Kaiser Chiefs and I wasn't exactly wrong. Then again, I wasn't exactly right. Actually, I was pretty much wrong. They weren't at all the same. They just happen to be from the same area of Yorkshire, England.
The Cribs, as compared to say, Kaiser Chiefs, are incredibly cynical. This can be better heard in their second and third albums, but it's not entirely absent from the first one. Much of that cynicism may come from the fact that they only built up an underground fan base in their home country, while less-talented bands won Brit awards. While many of their songs deal with the usual rock and roll topics (love, loss, and booze) more of their songs deal with the indie/hipster world and it's repercussions. Musically, they're rather unique in this day and age and trying to equate them to bands from previous decades would be rather confusing (because they combine a lot of different influences) and possibly very difficult.
Maybe the best way to describe the band is to look at their albums. The band which formed early in the 00's released their first self-titled album in 2003 with no definitive hit, though probably the best known track is "Another Number" (or that may just be my personal favourite and I assume everyone else knows it.) The Cribs can be more experimental, particularly in instrumentation and song structure, than their later albums, but the bands distinctive style can still be heard in the thin harmonies, both vocally and within the instruments, as well as in the switching between vocalists (the twins, Ryan and Garry.) While at times the songs seem to drag, despite the short run times, that may be because of the bands early propensity for long-ish guitar solos and complete abandonment of the melody (case in point, "Learning How to Fight" changes melody mid-way through). (The longest song is 5 minutes is probably the most experimental of the bunch.)
The next album, The New Fellas released in 2005, is more tightly composed with fewer melodic changes and slightly more cynical lyrics, indicating the direction the band was heading in. Lyrically the band almost completely abandons the usually lyrical topics of love, loss and booze in favour of commentary on the indie scene how very hypocritical it can be. The four tracks on The New Fellas is typical of this line of thought, highlighting the overall cynicism of the band as well as the combination of this cynicism with break-up songs ("I'm Alright Me" in particular.) The New Fellas also emphasizes the percussive side of the bands sound, something that would carry into their third album. The switching of the vocals between the twins is also continued in this album, though the difference in the two isn't always as noticeable as it will be in they're third album. Overall The New Fellas is more indicative of what was to come than anything else.
The latest album Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever, released in 2007, is the most coherent of the albums both in terms of style as well as in ability to understand the singers. (Just listen to "Mirror Kisses" from their second album and tell me you can understand every word coming out of Gary's mouth.) The album, produced by Franz Ferdinand lead singer Alex Kapranos, is the most warmly received out of all the albums and is probably the one best known both in the UK and the States. Compositionally Men's Needs... is the tightest of the three, though much of this may have come from Kapranos' production, which also lends a cleaner tone as compared to the first two albums (less fuzz and the like.) Lyrically the band has gone back to the more typical topics found in rock songs with a stronger emphasis on the loss part. While the lyrics remain cynical overall the venom found in the second has been toned down drastically with only a few tracks hinting at the bands dissatisfaction with the indie music scene. (An example of this is "Our Bovine Public" which explains exactly what the band thinks of much of the music scene.) The twins' vocal styles have (finally) become distinguishable with Gary tending to sing the higher parts in songs while Ryan sings the lower parts in songs (eg: Ryan sings vocals for the chorus in "Men's Needs" while Gary sings the chorus.) Much of the noticeable stylistic differences (cleaner sound, more cohesive song structure) between Men's Needs... and the band's earlier albums may come from the producer but ultimately the album is very much a Cribs album.
Must listen to tracks: "Another Number," "Hey Scenesters!", "Martell," "Mirror Kisses," "Things Aren't Gonna Change," "Our Bovine Public," "Men's Needs," "Moving Pictures," "I'm A Realist"