| (no subject) |
[Oct. 14th, 2009|08:25 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  chipper | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | My Bloody Valentine - Never Say Goodbye | ] |
Faces in the sand
Let me take you by the hand
Where do you come from
From a strange and secret land
Dark and scary eyes
And you feel you're always this way
Take me by the hand
Let me show you games we can play
Take me by surprise
Hide nothing from the shadows
We can kiss the sky
Never say goodbye
As we chase the clouds away |
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| Jibba Jabba |
[Sep. 7th, 2009|05:34 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  okay | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | John Lennon - Mind Games | ] |
So much to say, so little time.
- I recently moved from Winter Park to SE Orlando to better accommodate my job at Avalon Middle School. The move was extremely difficult due to disagreements between myself, my girlfriend, and my roommate. In fact, the move and dividing of the house almost cost me my relationship. It certainly has damaged my friendship with my roommate. We are not out of the woods yet, but things have appeared to calm down.
- Did I mention I have a job at Avalon Middle School in Orlando? I teach 7th grade social studies. I love it. I love the kids. I love the people there. Everything is peachy. Lots of work though. It will be a tough first year. However, so far at least, I am enjoying it very much.
- It surprises me as to how closely connected I am with UCF even after I have graduated.
- I have recently learned that one's anger can certainly blind them and make them do stupid stuff.
- I also recently learned that I can write left handed. How/when did that happen?
- I am relieved Oasis finally broke up. That band has been so sub-par this decade. They needed a new direction. I am a little sad, but for me, the band really broke up when Bonehead, Guigsy, and Alan White left. Noel Gallagher should go solo. All of the greats have done it --> McCartney, Lennon, Townsend, Sting, Paul Weller, Ian Brown...Of course, much of the solo stuff these guys have done has come with mixed results.
- Sometimes life is a waiting game. I am waiting for certain things to play out. Should be interesting. |
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| Let's Get Married |
[Jul. 28th, 2009|11:30 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | chipper | ] |
Let's get married.
I am serious, we should.
We can live together in a house by the beach.
Everyone is doing it, c'mon, it will be great.
We can pretend to know each other better as each day passes.
We can ignore the fact that, as we grow older, we are growing apart.
We can do stupid things, like have fake conversations with the strangers we call friends.
We can not make love, only spite.
We can be miserable, and fight.
We can pretend to be happy, even though we are not.
We can watch television in separate rooms.
We can covet our co-workers while it all falls apart.
Don't break your mother's heart, you said we'd last forever.
They said we were young, but we really didn't listen.
How I wish I would have.
I don't want to be a broken person at 27, divorced, and another fucking statistic I hear on the news.
I don't want to become an alcoholic like my brother, or a whore like my sister-in-law.
Still, we should do what feels right. Right now!
We should give into the pressure.
Let's get married, tonight.
It will be our greatest treasure. |
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| I wish it was Christmas (in July) |
[Jul. 23rd, 2009|12:00 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  rejected | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Randy Newman - Short People | ] |
I wish it was Christmas. That way I wouldn't feel so silly singing these seasonal songs in July. I can go home to see my Mom as she bakes another pie. I could forget about the work waiting for me next year, and the failures of this year. I can sleep and not regret waking up, like I have so many times in the past.
I can feel optimistic about the future, and not so trapped. I can open your gift, which is so tenderly wrapped. We can spend time together like said we would. The promises I make to you won't seem so hollow. I can make love to you and think about nothing, because nothing matters on Christmas.
Truly, nothing matters. The Sun reflecting off of the snow. The lights on the tree that perpetually glow. The smell of pine needles and stuffing and turkey. Nothing matters. Not on Christmas. The carols that play in my heart through the day. Nothing matters here. How I wish I could stay.
Nothing matters because it isn't real. Christmas is a mirage. Like a malnourished child in the desert walking into an oasis of death, Christmas is a mirage. We have to consume more resources. We have to keep buying. I have to visit family. I have to keep fucking flying. I have to stress out about what I have done and where I am going. This life isn't worth living, not in July, anyway. So I think about Christmas, then everything's okay. |
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| Best Lyrics |
[Jul. 14th, 2009|09:42 pm] |
I have assembled five sets of lyrics from various bands that I listen to. There is nothing extraordinarily special about them, I just wanted to share.
Feel free to share yours with me.
Live this life before your soul's a smoke-ring in the sky (The Verve - Monte Carlo)
Loneliness is like a mirror, you see yourself in everything (The Clientele - Dreams of Leaving)
You'll realize the sun dun't go down, it's just an illusion caused, by the world, spinning round (The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize???)
Could I ever find in you again, things that made me love you so much then, could we ever bring them back once they have gone? (The Beach Boys - Caroline, No)
And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love, you make (The Beatles - The End) |
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| Hey, I just had an idea... |
[Jun. 16th, 2009|06:57 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  pensive | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | The Flaming Lips - When You Smile | ] |
...that I am sure other Beatles fans have expressed in the past. Anyway, here it is:
Why not get the children of all the members of the Beatles to form a super group?
It is easy.
Sean Lennon can be the lead singer and play guitar (both of which he does in real life with much success)
James McCartney can play the bass and provide backing vocals, but occasionally sing lead too (he is rumored to have an album coming out this year where he both plays guitar and sings)
Dhani Harrison can play lead guitar and occasionally sing (have you heard his music? It is really good. He is in a band called "TheNewNo2")
Zak Starkey can play drums (from what I hear, he is an exceptional drummer)
There.
This band has one child of each of the former members of the Beatles.
I am telling you, this would work. Each member of this new super group is roughly the same in age (Sean is 33, James, 31, Dhani, 30, and Zak 43). Each member, I believe, could contribute to the process of making great music.
Let's make this happen!
Wait, what did you say? What about Julian Lennon? Well..., maybe Julian can sing lead.
I like Julian Lennon. He too, has an album coming out this year. |
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| Can we talk for a while? |
[Jun. 14th, 2009|09:38 pm] |
Can we talk for a while and solve this now?
Or will we dissolve into nothing through our silence?
This whole situation has me fuming and mad
I may have to resort to violence
I swore I'd always be a peace loving fellow
One who would never harm a fly
Then tell me, why do I have this feeling?
Of me wanting you to die?
How shall I do it then?
How shall you meet your end?
How will I stop your heart?
How will I cease this trend?
I won't, for I will count to ten
All is better now, it's true
Your end will be postponed indefinitely
Or until I get sick of you |
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| Hello out there |
[Jun. 2nd, 2009|10:10 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  tired | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Vampire Weekend - Mansard Roof | ] |
I find myself writing this same post every couple of months. I am sure you are all quite familiar with it. It begins with, "It has been a while since I have written in this thing, so let me update you all on my life..."
Well, I cannot say that I will never write this post again. The nature of my crazy life will inevitably force me to write this again and again.
Anyway:
- I graduated on May 9, 2009 from the University of Central Florida with my Master's degree in Social Science Education. Basically, this means I am now eligible to teach social studies classes to students in grades 6-12
- I am currently still living in Winter Park, FL. My lease expires on August 31.
- I am also currently looking for a teaching job in the state of Florida as a social studies teacher, which is proving to be a huge, but not unexpected challenge. With the tough economy and tight budgets, it is of no surprise that things are difficult.
- I would like to stay in Orlando because I have a life up here. My girlfriend is still going to school up here and I have several friends here. In a perfect world, I would find a job local enough to stick around. However, with the way things are looking on the job searching front, I will be lucky to find a full-time teaching job, period, let alone a job in Central Florida.
- If I cannot find anything in Central Florida by August 31, my move out date, I will be forced to move back home to Vero Beach, FL. This is not something I would hate to do, but it is not something I would embrace with a ticker tape parade either.
I could go on about how it is ludicrous that I, with a Master's degree and two academic publications, cannot find a teaching job. However, I will spare you that routine.
Life is difficult and there is no way around it. I will try to remain optimistic because that does not cost me anything, but my realistic side will only allow me to do this for so long.
-----------------
Aside from the recent craziness with my graduating and job searching, life has been good. I am still with Claudia. In fact, she is pretty much living with me now officially (though that will end in August, should my conditions not change). We have a good relationship. Even the hard decisions are easy to make with her. Nothing else needs to be said.
I have an uninteresting life. I am not well read in fiction. I do not keep up with the news. I am not as smart as my ego tells me I am. I do not want to continue searching for jobs. I dislike most school administrators. I am at a crossroads in my life, but I do not like to think about it or talk about it, mostly because I hate how people make at big deal about their personal life changes when most of them are ultimately insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
I hate Facebook. It makes me feel like a combination of a pervert and that stereotypical nerdy high school girl who is captain of the yearbook club. You know, she has braces and a bad perm. She is obnoxiously loud, but thinks everybody is her friend. She wears pink and too much lip stick and blush. That is what Facebook turns me into. A perverted drag queen.
I don't like shorts. I never wear them. I hate them. Men should not wear shorts. They are so juvenile. Pants come with a distinction. They are mature.
Did you know that the more you grow up (i.e. settle down, get married, have kids, have a job), the less freedom you have? It may seem obvious to you, the reflective reader, but I feel like so many of my friends have forgotten or ignored this simple, general rule. What a shame.
I was thinking about a quote the other day. I think it was from the movie "Harold and Maude." The quote was "Do not try to be too moral. You cheat yourself out of too many things in life." That is not the exact quote, but I think it is very true.
Some people were born to be molded by other people. The people I find to be the most interesting in life are the ones who have molded themselves. Be warned, though, because these self molders are probably the most stubborn people you will ever meet.
I hate what I just wrote. It sounds like something out of a self-help book. Garbage.
Capitalism is garbage. The continued existence of it will lead to the depletion of natural resources on Earth. This will lead to a chaos so extreme, that it is impossible to describe. Why is profit so important? Why do we need all of this stuff? I do not need half of the things I own. Human beings cannot sustain themselves on Earth. This truth will be known on a massive scale soon. If nothing else, it will be an interesting time to live through.
In the mean time, though, capitalism needs to be stopped. Of course, this battle between me and capitalism will be like shooting spit balls at a fighter jet.
Morality is a social construct....blah, blah, blah, blah. We live by these unspoken rules guided by expired ideas that people will kill for...blah, blah, blah, blah. Everything is unfair to most people, but nothing will ever be done.
So, do something about it.
Easier said than done.
It is like we can't talk about social class, racism, sexism, homophobia, religious extremism. I mean we can, but nobody listens. Nobody cares about social class.
Why is there monogamy? Does it even make sense? Biologically, human beings are not monogamous. Some of the rules we live by in life completely contradict nature. In other words, human beings betray their own nature for the sake of living by rules that were likely made up by people thousands of years ago.
Maybe monogamy protects people's feelings. Maybe it sustains our health. Maybe it is a social status thing. Maybe I should just follow the rules and shut up. That is pretty much what I do. Maybe my arguments are baseless and nonsensical.
I was just thinking about the absurdity of monogamy when held against our biological nature. Society makes us monogamous for religious reasons, I think. Yet, I practice monogamy. I do not do it for religious reasons. I do it because....I DON'T KNOW WHY. What a scary thought. I do something so innocuous, so expected, for no reason. I am in a relationship, therefore, I should be monogamous. Why? I do things everyday in life for no reason. The only reason I do things is because society expects me to do them. I am a robot.
I realize people can have relationships that are not monogamous, but that is not socially acceptable.
I have thought of all this many times before for many years. I am sure this conversation has been had over many cups of coffee in many places around the world. After all this, the conversation is still worth having. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 9th, 2009|06:29 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  uncomfortable | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Pearl Jam - Even Flow | ] |
I am feeling full of shame, regret, and disgust today. I really do not know why. I guess being in a classroom full of 7th graders all day as an intern with no job prospects will make you feel that way one day or another.
Being in an education internship, like I am right now, will really make you re-think your direction in life. Some days it is so wonderful to actually be there. To be working with the kids is a joy. Other days it feels like stabbing yourself in the face with a crayon that you have sharpened into a letter opener against your own teeth.
I have not written much about my specific experiences in this journal for a number of reasons. Firstly, I am keeping a separate journal specifically themed on my internship, so I thought writing two at the same time would be redundant. Secondly, I do think I would feel comfortable posting potentially damaging information that could effect what little chances I do have of finding a job on the internet for everyone to see. I know I could make the entry "friends only," but for some reason that does not comfort me.
Do not get me wrong, I am still dead set on becoming a teacher. That is the path I chose and I am determined to continue on that path. Truly, time will be the only judge as to whether the job is right for me. I need to be teaching in my own classroom for at least a year before I can definitively judge whether or not this is the right career for me. However, given the toxic economy in which we are currently living, I may never get the chance to find out if this truly was the right path for me. I know I would try my best and give everything I have for my students, but that ambition and drive doesn't make the Florida budget magically not have a multi-billion dollar deficit.
Anyway, while I am writing, let me update you on my life:
- As said above, I am currently in an internship with 7th graders at a middle school in Orlando FL. Overall, it has been a great experience. However, some days are better than others. Today was an "others" day.
- I was suppose to see Robin Williams this Friday at the UCF Arena, but the show was indefinitely postponed until he gets heart surgery. Apparently he was complaining of shortness of breath two days before the Orlando show. Hope he is okay and I hope he will honor his promise to come to Orlando. If not, I am $400 in the hole.
- Speaking of money, I am broke. Are you?
- Speaking of comedians, I am seeing Louis CK at Hard Rock Live on 3/20. This will be the second time I will see him. He is amazingly hilarious. I wish I could just carry him around with me all day to hear his commentary on the situations I experience in life.
- Graduation for me is rapidly approaching. In early May I will have a Master's degree. Yay. Of course, the economy is so bad that my Master's may not get me anything except an excuse to buy a diploma frame. Oh well.
- Why did we ever think that unfettered free market capitalism was a good thing?
- I am tired all the time. The time change is hurting me and my internship is preventing me from getting a whole lot of sleep.
- I need to go. |
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| Today |
[Mar. 6th, 2009|08:36 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | okay | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Weezer - No Other One | ] |
Today was a better day for me.
Sometimes life seems so glum one day, but great the next.
This is the roller coaster that is my life sometimes. |
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| Guess What? |
[Mar. 5th, 2009|09:50 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  gloomy | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | The Beach Boys | ] |
Life is disappointing.
What a tragic and cruel exercise it can be sometimes. |
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| (no subject) |
[Feb. 5th, 2009|08:33 pm] |
Goodnight my angel of the dark,
moonlight rising on the park.
I've got to go, its nearly morning,
though even you will break my heart.
Don't be afraid of dreams of leaving,
remember they are only dreams.
They have no meaning in the sunlight
Just the same as you and me.
And I've had friends who walk by the river,
the ghosts of night are coming in.
Loneliness is like a mirror,
you see yourself in everything.
Goodnight my angel of the dark,
moonlight rising on the park.
I've got to go, its nearly morning,
though even you will break my heart.
- The Clientele |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 11th, 2009|12:00 am] |
All I wanna do
Is always bring good to you
To give you all the love I can
And help you in whatever you do
Sure as the sun will come around again to start off another day
You can be sure that in my heart and soul I'll love you in every way
All I wanna do
Is bring happiness to you
I hope it makes you happy to know
My love's with you wherever you go |
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| Good Bye 2008, hello 2009 |
[Jan. 1st, 2009|12:52 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  awake | ] |
Where did you begin 2008?
I was at home with my family in Vero Beach...I think.
What was your status by Valentine's Day?
I had already been in a relationship that started in 2007.
Were you in school (anytime this year)?
Yep, I was in the first full year of my Master's degree.
Did you have to go to the hospital?
Thankfully no.
Did you have any encounters with the police?
Nope.
Where did you go on vacation?
Hah! What vacation?
What did you purchase that was over $500?
Probably rent for the month.
Did you know anybody who got married?
A few people from my church, but nobody very close to my family.
Did you know anybody who passed away?
My grandmother on my father's side.
Did you move anywhere?
Yeah, I moved about 1/2 mile up the road in Winter Park.
What sporting events did you attend?
A couple of New York Mets spring training games and a Florida State Football game.
What concerts/shows did you go to?
Martin Short & RADIOHEAD...it was a relatively dry year for concerts/shows.
Where do you live now?
The Port Side Court house in Winter Park, FL.
What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2008?
I got a publication in an NCSS journal. It hits the press in 2009.
What has/have been your favorite moment(s)?
Going to the NCSS conference in Houston was a blast. Finding out about the publication was awesome. Anytime Claudia and I went out was a lot of fun. Hanging out with friends at Thanksgiving was great. Honestly, spending time with family during the holidays. I usually hate the holidays, and this year was no exception. However, I did get to spend some time with family, which was very nice this year. Oh, the New York Giants won the Super Bowl in '08...that was a great way to bring in the (2008) new year.
What's something you learned about yourself?
Despite having a short fuse sometimes, I handle emergencies relatively well.
What was your best month?
I can't really say. My worst month was August...the month my rented house was foreclosed upon.
What music will you remember 2008 by?
It's tough to say. I didn't buy much new music this year. Probably anything by The Clientele. Strange Geometry and God Save the Clientele were always in my CD player. God Save was never far away from the CD player.
Made new friends?
I did. That is always a nice thing.
Favorite Night[s] out?
I had a few. The Obama election party I went to was fun. The Radiohead concert was excellent. There are others with my girlfriend, friends, and family.
Any regrets?
I regret not paying attention to the writing on the wall with my house foreclosure. I regret the 2008 Mets season (though this was out of my hands). I regret not having the willpower to finish my EDF 6517 class the right way. I regret not speaking up in some social situations.
What do you want to accomplish in 2009?
Well, I'd like to graduate (I will graduate), I'd like to publish a few more items, most importantly, I'd like to find a social studies teaching job in central Florida and move-in with my girlfriend. Hopefully the chips will fall in the right place.
Overall, how would you rate this year?
2007 was such a great year that it made 2008 look bad when it really wasn't. In '07, I met Claudia, graduated, saw numerous shows (Flaming Lips, Travis, Rufus W.), saw some NYM baseball games, got into graduate school, etc. This year, in my mind, was an extension of '07 with a few more bumps in the road. My grandmother died and I missed the funeral. My house situation turned sour, etc. Overall, '08 was a tick below '07, but still a very good year personally.
What would you change about 2008?
In a perfect world, I would have made my grandmother's funeral and have moved out of my house before the s**t hit the fan.
Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
School. That's it.
Have any life changes in 2008?
Nothing too huge. I simply grew up a little more.
Change your hairstyle?
Ha! Naw. Just trying to keep it.
Get a new job?
No, this will be the major goal of 2009.
Do you have a New Year's resolution?
Yes, stay within my personal budget!
Did anything embarrassing?
Shit, everyday man.
Buy anything new from eBay?
No, but I did buy some old used WWII magazines.
What was/were your favorite purchase[s]?
Food. I like food.
Get married or divorced?
No.
Get arrested?
Nope.
Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
No way.
Did you get sick this year?
Twice. Two colds.
Start a new hobby?
Na.
Been snowboarding?
No snow in Florida.
Are you happy to see 2008 go?
I am happy to see us all moving on together.
Drank Starbucks in 2008?
Once. I had a $5 giftcard. I have about $1.88 left on it, so I might go back.
What are you wishing for in 2009?
For the world to be in better shape than it was in '08 |
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| ourojijoir |
[Dec. 23rd, 2008|02:43 pm] |
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I hate Christmas |
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| The Clientele - Here Comes the Phantom |
[Oct. 28th, 2008|11:30 pm] |
April at midnight, but I can’t sleep
So I took a walk around the trees
And what did I see?
Summer waits in the leaves
As lovely as I’ve ever known
Happiness just comes and goes
My heart is playing like a violin
Sunday and she calls again
So where can I go?
Somewhere the wind will blow me
Back into the conversation
Promises and situations yeah
It’s all castles in the air
The Phantom fighting crime in the streets
Lonely cops put flowers on their beads
And what do they see?
Summer waits in the leaves
As lovely as they’ve ever known
Happiness just comes and goes
My heart is playing like a violin
Sunday and she calls again
All of the dreams
That you dream
I hope that they are all of me
I hope that they are all of me
It’s the Phantom
Here comes the Phantom |
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| I've been tagged!?!?!? |
[Oct. 20th, 2008|11:55 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  hungry | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Super Furry Animals - Ice Hockey Hair | ] |
Write 8 interesting facts about yourself.
Post them in your blog
tag 8 people to do the same.
I was tagged by deaddogseye (Peter)
1) About eight years ago, on Halloween Night, a friend and I were walking along State Road 60 in Vero Beach. Me, being a mischievous teenager, decided it would be a good idea to throw some of my candy at the ongoing cars on 60. Bad idea. I hit one car and the driver slammed on his breaks. Then, he simply drove off.
About ten minutes later, walking down my road towards my house, my friend and I feel high beams on our backs. It was the guy I hit. He pulled around, got out of his car, and beat the crap out of my and my friend. I guess I cracked his windshield.
We were so stupid. We should have ran or something. I had a swollen eye for a week.
2) The first time I really tried marijuana was in 9th grade. Me and a couple of friends had gone to a Vero Beach High School football game. We left the game after a while and walked to a nearby park known as "The Creative Playground." Once there, we rolled up and smoked away. Little did I know that what we were smoking was laced with something that was not marijuana. I had a really bad high and freaked out. I became really paranoid and literally ran from the park, past the stadium, and to the local convenience store where I called my Mom via pay phone. She picked me up, I admitted to the whole thing, and got all my friends in trouble.
Thus began the awkward high school years. I didn't try marijuana again for a long time.
3) I can, with my mouth, make a sound that is indistinguishable from a kazoo.
4) From 1999 to about 2004, all I did was skateboard. I got pretty good. I quit when it became too competitive and when all my friends either quit or moved away. Skateboarding taught me a lot about life. In particular, it taught me that patience and hard work gets you results.
5) I graduated with my B.A. in political science Summa Cum Laude. Not to brag, but I was pretty proud of that.
6) Also, I was awarded a $20,000 fellowship to get my M.A. in Social Science Education. This came as a result of my hard work as an undergrad. Again, not trying to brag, but these are at least mildly interesting facts about me.
7) The following is posted on the Facebook page for Fire On Gorgeous about an interesting experience I had at one of their shows a few years back:
I remember losing my temper about my car breaking down at Zoom. I was cool for the most part. I called the towing company and they said they would come to pick it up. Everything was fine until I had to go to the bathroom.
Unfortunately, Josh from Little Reggies wasn’t allowing people to exit the venue once they entered (because he is an idiot). So, I couldn’t walk into the venue to pee and then walk back out to tend to my car (once the tow truck came). So I angrily ripped off my wristband and threw it on the ground and peed on it behind the venue. I basically threw away $10 because the show had not even started yet and my wristband was trashed.
I finally calmed down and went straight to Josh and attempted to reason with him. I explained my situation, and he told me (in his stupid nasally voice) he’d let me back into the venue, just as long as I could bring him the wristband (which I told him I threw out somewhere). So I recovered my urine soaked wristband and happily handed it to him. It was still wet, so I told him it was sitting next to a sweaty water bottle in my car.
Ha, he touched my urine. It is one thing for me to touch my own urine, but for another person, that is just plain gross. He deserved it.
8) I have anxiety issues that go un-medicated. Some days are really difficult to get through as a result of this. Of course, anxiety leads to depression which is another problem I sometimes deal with. For anybody who tells you these problems aren't real, they are full of shit. I have friends who deal with this stuff on a much more serious level than I. I admire them greatly.
Since I don't have eight friends to tag, I will just request that jmasterj, Jerry, fill out this activity. |
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| Top Ten Bands |
[Oct. 15th, 2008|02:13 pm] |
Recently, the staff at NME (New Musical Express) compiled a list of their top ten bands of all time.
Since I am bored, I figured I would do the same in this post. These are my personal top ten bands of all time:
1)The Beatles - Nobody can top them. They are the greatest band ever. Period.
2)The Beach Boys - Greatest American band ever. People with Brian Wilson's talent come once in a lifetime.
3)The Who - Often overshadowed by the Beatles and Rolling Stones. Dynamic, beautiful, and powerful. Consistently excellent for two decades. Helped start punk rock.
4)Led Zeppelin - What all rock music should sound like, bluesy and full of soul.
5)The Flaming Lips - Original. Coyne and Drozd are geniuses. Made two of the best albums I've ever heard back-to-back. Phenomenal performers. Best show I've ever been to.
6)Radiohead - I have just recently discovered how truly amazing this band is. Probably the best band in the world right now
7)Nirvana - I think they were largely responsible for the 90s rock Renaissance. Cobain is an icon.
8)The Stone Roses - So wonderful for an unfortunately short time.
9)Super Furry Animals - Every album is good or great. Always breaking new barriers. Most underrated band in the world. Gruff Rhys and SFA are the Wayne Coyne and Flaming Lips of Wales.
10)The Clientele - Second most underrated band in the world. Painfully beautiful and clear sound. Gorgeous lyrics, best I've ever heard. Art as music.
Top ten lists are really difficult to do because you always exclude something. So, here is an additional list of bands that I think are excellent:
- R.E.M: Should have made the list. Legends.
- U2: See above
- Pink Floyd: Many of the bands on this list would not be here if it wasn't for them.
- The Doors: So much soul. Legends.
- Low: Original Original Original Original. I can't stress this enough. Underrated underrated underrated...
- Van Halen: Biggest band in the world from late 70s to mid 80s.
- Air: The greatest thing to come out of France since baguettes.
- Oasis: Defined the high school years of my life. Still a favorite to this day.
- Primal Scream: Should have made the list. Legends in England. Unheard of in the U.S.
- The Verve: A gift from heaven. Their sound is so fluid and rich, but still psychedelic.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers: See R.E.M. and U2
- Stone Temple Pilots: Led Zeppelin light is still full of flavor.
- Rage Against the Machine: I learned a lot from these guys. Raw power and anger.
- My Bloody Valentine: Defined a genre. Not everyone can say that.
- Ride: Amazing and refreshing. Combined pop and shoegaze on their second album.
- Slowdive & Mojave 3: Just beautiful.
- Weezer: Blue album and Pinkerton are legendary. Everything else...
- Coldplay: U2 light. Same sound, different decade. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Among my favorites.
- The Happy Mondays: Manchester England in the early 90s belonged to these guys.
- The Prodigy: Help mainstream electronica
- The Chemical Brothers: See above
- Travis: Britpop champions. Underrated. Great song writers. Better than most bands, actually.
- Doves: Probably my favorite band at the moment. Dark and beautiful. Mysterious and sad.
- A Band of Bees: Just listen to 'Chicken Payback' and you'll understand.
- Silverchair: These guys are fantastic. Possibly legends in the making. 'Young Modern' was great. Daniel Johns is the man.
I know I left some off. Nevertheless, that's it. |
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| guess what? |
[Oct. 7th, 2008|10:48 am] |
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Not an Oasis fan anymore. |
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