The Squires of Dimness

Lite entertainment by Anne Tai, featuring "four fifths of With Teeth-era NIN."



From left to right: Squire North (aka Aaron North), Squire White (aka Jeordie White), and Squire Dillon (aka Jerome Dillon)

Top 10 albums...

Okay, so I'm fucking bored and have nothing to do, and I'm purposely... er, postponing reading the scary WTO shit I was assigned to during vaca, and I don't feel in a particularly energetic mood to go out and have fun, but rather to spend a quiet night with my cute puppy and my music library. Because that's just how nerdy I am. And I'm so bored I want to resuscitate some old favorite albums and share them here... because it gives me the idea that someone actually gives a shit about my music. Haha, I know that's stupid, but I am kind of stupid (sometimes), and mostly I AM BORED! so, here I go, I'm gonna kill another hour.

In the meantime, I'm going to list all the other music, the kind of stuff I listen to when I'm not listening to NIN, which would be about an hour a day altogether, that I think is worth mentioning, so that the wide portion of the planet that reads my posts learns a bit about good music. With your help, we will turn the world into a tasteful, music-educated place!
This is my top ten favorite albums. Check them out and if you don't like them, go shoot yourself. Thank you.

10. Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Who knew Bristol was home to such a wicked cool genre of music! I mean, Bristol! I would expect that from New York, since it is my home at the end of the rainbow and all... but honestly, Trip Hop is hands down one of the most exciting genres to come out of the dreadful nineties. And this album, released in 1997, is one of the best in the whole fucking genre. One jewel after the other, no lie! Fully equipped with rock guitars, funky beats and Elizabeth Fraser's voice, this album rocks from start to finish.
Recommended track: Inertia Creeps - It creeps me out how fucking amazing it is. My favorite Massive Attack track, no contest.

9. Lydia Lunch & Rowland S. Howard - Shotgun Wedding
The queen of goth punk, no wave, New York, and all things fucked up in general did it again. After the release of Queen of Siam in 1979, this lady made her mark in music as one of the pioneers in that weird genre of music she makes that I call Experimental for lack of a better description (and vocabulary). This time, she teamed up with former Birthday Party/Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds guitarist, Aussie Rowland S. Howard; and the result is a cocktail of explosive music that gives me goosebumps of how good it is. Post-punk guitars, Lydia's trademark snark, and nine tracks displaying the amazing chemistry between these two individuals, and the result is one of the most thrilling albums I have ever come across.
Recommended track: Endless Fall - Fuck, this one is scary. One of the shortest in an album predominantly made of 5 minute long tracks, but it's like the most evil of all nine.

8. Arcade Fire - Funeral
Okay, so I have already professed my devoted love to the Arcade Fire, because they are awesome, and even though some think they sold out, I don't give a fuck, as long as they continue to blow my mind like they did with this little album. They have, so I have nothing bad to say about them. I love how this album sounds so experimental only because they use a mandolin or something like that. It really isn't all that complicated, it's just so well made it sounds like it is. I cannot complain about a single song on that album, they all have something that's enchanting, freaky, fresh and vintage.
Recommended track: Rebellion (Lies) - Goddammit, this song features one hell of a buildup almost as good as that of Nine Inch Nails' Eraser. Not that it's anywhere near similar to Eraser's, but it's still chilling. Shit, I love this song.

7. Cat Power - We Are Free
Actually, this was a hard one. I mean, I don't want to repeat myself by including the same artist twice here, because I have so many albums to include, and that would be pretty stupid. But it was hard choosing a Cat Power favorite. I was going to say Dear Sir, but then this one, although more modern and less... sulky, makes the cut by a nose. I love how every track on this album is classic Cat Power (puzzling lyrics, sad guitars, even sadder vocals), but has a new element that I cannot put my finger on but is charming. Features Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder on vocals on two songs, which I'm not exactly thrilled about, but... I think it works, so what the hell. And Cat Power is awesome, so yeah, it had to work.
Recommended track: Good Woman - One of the two tracks featuring Eddie Vedder, includes a choir of children or something like that doing backup vocals, which I love, love, love. I think that's why I think this song is not as gloomy as it should be.

6. Interpol - Our Love to Admire
Different from Interpol's previous releases, Turn on the Bright Lights and Antics, it includes a new element called a keyboard, and I love how that makes for some incredible mix. This super cool band from New York has captivated me since it broke into the music scene, and this album solidified their status of super talented group of New Yorkers. I love that they're from New York. The Joy Division, Chameleons, Catherine Wheel influences are clear, and the evolution of the band is also noticeable.
Recommended track: The Scale - This is the most Chameleons-influenced track off of that album, I think, and I love the dramatic feel to it. Post punk revival never sounded so fucking great.

5. Cocteau Twins - Garlands
The debut album by this inspired band is definitely a must-have in any alternative music fan's library. It's the first hint into Elizabeth Fraser's weird mind, and it's the perfect example of how keeping it simple can lead to amazing results. You don't have to be fucking Led Zeppelin to make good music. Most of the songs are build up on one recurrent motif, and the use of haunting guitars accompanying Fraser's vocals is impressive indeed. Maybe the lyrics are fucked up, and it would take like a good psychiatrist and a whole think tank to make some sense out of them, but this band, and this album, are one of the precursors to and main influences in the shoegaze genre, and that is a huge accomplishment.
Recommended track: Shallow Then Halo - Weird, spooky, exciting, dreamy... the perfect soundtrack to my nightmares.

4. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy
Honestly, I thought there was something wrong with this record the first time I played it. Like it was broken or something. And now that I love it, I cannot believe I was so stupid. The noise pierces my ears, gives me brain-splitting headaches, makes it hard for me to figure out the song, but it sure is rich. I mean, how can you not love this album, it's so juvenile and happy and... crazy! These guys are awesome, I was going to include Darklands too on this list, but then again... not repeating myself is a bitch. And yeah, Darklands has the title track and Happy When it Rains and all of that, but this one has more noise, and as long as I can drive people nuts with my music, I'm happy. So this album, it was.
Recommended track: The Living End - "And I'm in love with myself!" haha, I love Jim Reid.

3. New Order/Joy Division - Substance
Haha, I cheated! Well, it's not my fault both bands have an album called Substance. And it's not my fault either that I love them both. Nothing compares to the amazing genius of Ian Curtis and his merry men, Joy Division is the perfect combination of punk energy and darkness. This is where goth was born, this is where post punk got its big break. This is where the best music ever made drew inspiration from. Although different, the two albums have an element of mesmerizing sadness and raw power. And while I cannot choose a favorite, I can honestly say that Joy Division has made some of the best music the world has ever seen, case closed.
Recommended track(s): Sub Culture - Shit, the reworking of this amazing New Order single made me go OMGWTFBBQ! I completely adore this one, and so should you. She's Lost Control - Joy Division killed with this song. Nuff said.

2. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Juju
My favorite Siouxsie album, it includes my second favorite song by them, and my eleventh favorite song ever, Spellbound. I love how this is the first Banshees album that flirts with goth, and how it's... different from anything else ever made. Shit, I love you, Siouxsie!
Recommended track: Spellbound - But you already knew that, right?

1. Ladytron - Witching Hour
Wow, this was tough. Choosing a fave was hard, but doable, and I did it. I cannot tell you how much I love this album, and this band. So, I will stop going off about how awesome it is and advise you that, if you know what's good in life, you should get that album ASAP!
Recommended track: Destroy Everything You Touch - Saaaaawwwwwwweeeeeeeeeettttttt ttttttttt! This is the epitome of cool, the reason why I love this band.

Bonus!
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!
A new release, from 2008! This album incorporates elements of vintage Nick Cave (epic narratives, bluesy melodies, imminent sense of dread and insanity in every song) plus the more garage rock, guitar-driven influence of Nick Cave's side project, Grinderman. This is probably one of the best albums of the year, and I am so bummed I won't get to see them live supporting this album. Anyway, anything Nick Cave makes is gold, and after a string of gorgeous pieces such as From Her to Eternity, Your Funeral... My Trial, and Tender Prey, I am committed to preaching the messed up gospel of Nick Cave until the end of time.
Recommended track: Hold on to Yourself - This song makes me tear. Honestly, one time I teared to this song at the mall. Melody is flawless, lyrics disturbingly sad, and overall, this is one of the songs that I will have played at my funeral.

Here, my top ten favorite albums. If you'd like, go buy them, and if you're a cheap fuck, go steal them or whatever. Just please give them a listen. They will blow your mind.

Listening to: Death in June - The Guilty Have No Pride
Eating: Yeah, right.
Drinking: Tea! again...

Nachos, $100 dresses, and a whole lotta CHEWBACCA

Today was a fun day, and I mean it not like "today I got my hands on some lovely Siouxsie and the Banshees album and I had fun listening to it while I bored myself to sleep." No, it was more like "today I had fun with my girls and felt like my life was less of a drag than usual." Seriously, today was a nice day. Wanna hear about it? No? Well, I don't care anyway, so here I go.

I got dressed and went to school to register. Unfortunately, the system in this country is fucked up, I was supposed to wait in line for like two hours to pay $2 on bus fares. I mean, seriously, TWO FUCKING DOLLARS! Otherwise, I couldn't register for classes this next term. Of course I'm lazy and didn't wait, so I'll have to play early bird tomorrow and go wait the fucking line at eight o'clock to finally register. And speaking of academic stuff, today I saw my final grades, and I passed last semester with top honors. Shit, I honestly think the woman at the office was bored and just wanted to fuck with the grades, cause there is no way in hell I could have passed simul with an outstanding 98.5. I mean, seriously, I am honest and have no problem saying I stink at simul, and I'm the first to admit I did like shit on the final, but... it's not like I hate the 98.5, you know. If they don't figure out the mistake, I won't tell them either. Cause if it ain't broken... So shhhh!

After I cut the line, I called up my good friend Chewbacca and woke her up from her mid-afternoon beauty sleep so we could hang out. I picked her up and we went to the mall to buy my mommy a birthday present. In the end, I got my mom a lovely card that I'm sure will make her cry, since she's such a woman and cries a lot, and a nice present I'm sure she'll love, which cost me a lot. But whatever, I'm sure my mom's spent more on me in one day, I can do this for her. Heee.

Chewbacca called our friend Rabid Unicorn, and the three of us set ourselves to try out as many outfits as we could at every fucking store we found on our way. I got my hands on an absolutely gorgeous, classy, sexy, $100 silk dress that I was really determined to steal hadn't I been stopped by the fact that I do have a conscience and I am actually kind of a good person. But next time the fucking conscience is staying home, cause I will NOT let that dress escape my grip again. I promise.
After ransacking all the cool stores, Chewbacca, Rabid Unicorn and Cat were tired, and since Rabid Unicorn is perpetually hungry, we wound up going to TGI Friday's. Chewbacca and I said we would just watch her eat and just have a drink or something, but we have no willpower whatsoever, so, as expected, the three of us devoured a huuuuge platter of nachos, plus two pina coladas EACH (courtesy of the muchly beloved happy hour!), and diet coke. Haha, we wanted to fucking puke after we were done. But Rabid Unicorn is voracious, I mean famished, and she's loaded, so she bought dessert. Chewbacca and I tried to act like we wouldn't have any, and would just watch her stuff herself, as always, but her 'pretty pretty please' bought us again, and we had apple pie and some gossipy light chit-chat. Ooooh, that was fun.

Okay, so it takes so little to make me happy, so what? I love my girls, and I can always count on them for some cheap laughs and gossipy chit-chat. And dessert. And okay, so maybe today would cost me some weight gain, jiggly thighs and a light headache (because those pina coladas were kind of strong), but we had fun. This is exactly what I needed to relax and forget about the fact that, come next Monday, we will be descending into hell every night. Shit, I don't even want to think about how horrible this next semester will be.

Cat is tired now and is off to sleep. Not really, but I just don't wanna tell you what I'm gonna do later. It's private.

Listening to: The Chameleons - Intrigue in Tangiers
Eating: Are you fucking crazy? After today, I won't eat for three days!
Drinking: Water

Shiny Happy People playlist!

Hell, I wish the title applied to my current mood, but sadly, I can honestly say it doesn't. Not by a mile. Wanna know why I'm not one of the shiny happy people right now? Hmmm, let's see. I had only one week of vacation this semester, when the rule is that you get TWO! Just one, seven days and shit-all. Now, that wouldn't be so bad, because even a week of free time is very welcome in my opinion, but since God doesn't exist, or if he does, He's not really on my side, I spent most of my precious week of vaca taking some retarded workshop that really didn't do much for me other than rip me off my sixty bucks. I hate this shit. Then, the two days left of my week I'll have to devote them to reading some seriously b o o o r i n g readings about the WTO and some crap that I really could care less about. The kicker to this story is that our dearly beloved dean made us take this useless workshop because she said we had to and well... you can't argue with her, and now she made us waste our week of rest, which we needed TONS more than the workshop! The new semester is going to be nuts! Seriously, I need a gun right now, and not necessarily to kill her. Although that doesn't sound like such a bad idea.
So, since all I can do decently in life is listen to music to pass the time and get over my depression, I made a playlist (another one... bear with me, please) that would resemble my mood right now IF I HAD HAD MY WEEK OFF! Kind of a alternate reality sort of thing... with music. Now, personally, I am the kind to rub the depression right in my face and make it worse by listening to painfully sad crap, because I'm sadistic like that, but now we'll do the opposite. I'm gonna list ten happy songs and see if they work on me and make me happy. I doubt it, but you can't blame me for trying, can you?

Lush - I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend
I know, don't hit me! This song is what you listen to when your name is Candy and you like The Jonas Brothers OMG! Well, not quite. And no offense if your name is Candy. This song has the weird ability to make me happy, even if it's only for a few minutes. That slut whore Avril Lavigne ripped off this song, which in turn is a cover of some song by some guy or other... I don't know all that much, ok? Great shoegaze band, almost as good as Slowdive, not as good as My Bloody Valentine, though. But still, they are hands down cheerful.

Shriekback - Nemesis
Yay! British New Wave is sooooo fun! This is a little band that got me somewhat hooked for like a second, then became more of a novelty to me and then just lost most of its appeal. Still, I cannot say they're bad. And this song is just the epitome of happy! Taken from Oil & Gold, this is one good, easy way to get your happy back!

Talk Talk - Today
Shit, again with the British new wave! This is actually more New Romantic than New Wave, which still sounds just like New Wave to me but more dramatic. I don't know, this song is sort of happy. Reminds me of Flashdance. What a feeling! This is not so much happy as energetic, but you need energy to be happy, right? Extra points for the album artwork. Haha, that artwork is funny... if not, then at least it's colorful. Color is happiness, right?

Pavement - Summer Babe (Winter Version)
You can never go wrong with Pavement. Especially because they have a wide array of happy music that you can sing, shake your booty, jump and just enjoy yourself to. Plus, they are immensely good, so you won't feel stupid for acting retarded to Pavement. Okay, maybe you will, but who cares! It's not like you're gonna do it in public. Although if you do, you probably are retarded. Get away from Pavement, if that's the case, then.

David Bowie - Suffragette City
Reverend Bowie can do no wrong, honestly. In fact, I think I would buy an album entirely made up of him belching and burping if he made it. Because it would be a masterpiece. This little album is what made Bowie Bowie (The Rise and Liberation of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars) and it couldn't be any other way, this album is as legendary as the man who made it.

Devo - Big Mess
Anything off of Devo's catalog is happy. I chose this song because it's my favorite. I could have chosen Whip It, because it is happier, but then again, Whip It is more cliche, so fuck it. This one works just fine, though. I tell you, New Wave is the shit when you wanna smile. And Devo just has this innate humorous quality to it that makes it hard for you not to enjoy it. Must be Mark Mothersbaugh's glasses... hehe.

1000 Homo DJs - Supernaut
Covers are good when the band making them is good and they know what they're doing. Except for that Devo cover of NIN's Head Like a Hole... God, what were they thinking? But that's because... well, I don't know, but that's like the only exception to the rule. I know many covers, some great, some not so much, some pathetic, but nothing like this one. This song, originally by Black Sabbath, fills you with stamina better than a can of Red Bull, coffee and speed altogether. Shit, this song makes you want to go outside, steal a bike and go on a tough biker adventure, leather and all. No? Well, maybe I'm the only one who gets those ideas, but you get my point. This song is the product of some evil tweaking and nipping and tucking from Al Jourgensen's part, and some input from His Holiness, Master Trent Reznor, of some little known act I kind of dig called the Nine Inch... something. Sadly, I don't have the WaxTrax! version of this song, which is gracefully enhanced by the enchanting voice of Mr. Reznor, but this one, with Jourgensen on vocals, is pretty cool as well. Supernaut!

Black Kids - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You
Fuck yes, the Black Kids! Indie at its best! They're not from New York, which sucks, but they could as well be, they are so worth being part of the NY indie scene. And yeah, they're dancey and kind of pop and all but they're good and fuck you if you say I'm stupid for liking the Black Kids. I mean it. This song, which can be found on both the Partie Traumatic album and the Wizard of Ahhhs EP, makes it impossible for you not to smile. Seriously, who can resist such a fun song?!

Moving Units - Between Us and Them
A beautiful band from Los Angeles, opened for Nine Inch Nails for like two nights and became one of my favorites. I have to give this to Trent, he does know about music. And it's funny how we just seem to have the same taste in music. This song is part of a great debut album called Dangerous Dreams, and this band is part of a great music movement called post-punk revival. Together, the Moving Units make one of the most exciting new acts out there right now. Check them out.

Dead Kennedys - Too Drunk to Fuck
About time some real badass music made the cut. Yeah, I was getting tired of this nice, politically-correct bullshit music, let's bring the most dangerous band in America! Those guys whose lead singer ran for governor of California and actually lost because the world is fucked up. Seriously though, Jello Biafra would have beat the shit out of good ol' Governator Schwarzenegger as head of the state. I mean, this is the guy who dared to speak out and say shit like it was with his groundbreaking music, this is the guy who wrote Holiday In Cambodia because he was sick and tired of the tyranny of all modern-day forms of government. This was the guy who wanted freedom of speech for everyone. This was the guy who wrote 'and now I got diarrhea, too drunk to fuck!' Well, you can say as much as you want about Jello Biafra and the Dead Kennedys, but this song is funny, and it's fun, and it's great because it just cracks my shit up. So there.

Bonus!
Nine Inch Nails - Physical
Oh my God. See? This is what I was talking about when I said that thing about covers. Of course, TRez knows what he's doing, and even his worst crap is so good it puts everything else out there to shame. This lovely cover of an Adam & the Ants song, which is amazing in itself, I might add, blows up the cool-meter and thus submits every other song to its mighty coolness. How can it not be fucking cool, it features Maise (Trent's former dog, now in dog heaven, R.I.P.) on backup vocals at the beginning, and is one of the few songs in which you can hear Trent breathing and moaning and panting and screaming like he has his beautiful hands down in his pants. This song is sexy as hell, and sexy is happy. Extra points for that bit at the end of the first chorus where he makes... very sexy, explicit noises that dear Cat here immensely appreciates. Yum.

Those are my ten happy songs that I picked from the trash bin and cleaned up with toilet paper and saliva for your pleasure and entertainment. I had fun listening to this playlist, I smiled, I laughed, I jumped... and as soon as it was over, some stupid Current 93 song came up and I was back in the gutter. Fuck.
See ya later, I'm gonna go find that gun now.

Listening to: Feist - The Limit to Your Love
Eating: A doughnut! Can you believe it? I'm eating!
Drinking: Uh... shit, I'm thirsty.

Fuck off techies/I <3 Lis!/Inspirational playlist

Hehe, so tech support in this country sucks balls, I know. No one could fix my goddamn cord, so I'm comp-less... but you all know that already. Yet, thanks to my guardian angel/official laughingstock/lifesaver/role model Lisette aka silly midget (because she really is a midget) I got to use my computer for a night! Oh hell yes! She let me borrow her cord until tomorrow night, which is just grand. And I plan of making the best out of my happy hour hehe and use the stupid laptop until it dies. I actually intend to start writing in exactly 22 minutes, and stop only when my body subsides. I mean it. So yeah, watch out, cause Cat's inspired.

But, no proper inspiration comes without the necessary musical accompaniment, the right sounds to get the mind juices flowing. The mood grooves. Since I am such a genius at assembling playlists for every single mood ever imaginable, because I am a genius when it comes to music (and everything else, thank you very much), I made my own Inspirational Jams playlist for today, August 25, 2008. Watch out for these songs and these artists, they are all incredible (as everything I listen to, obviously), and worth giving a listen. So, here I go.
I'm gonna keep it short and include only 20 songs, but there'll be tons more, I am sure.

The Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
Although not as brilliant as anything off AF's first born, Funeral, this tune is pretty catchy, my second favorite off of Neon Bible, after Intervention. Oh, and there's also Keep the Car Running... third favorite, then, ahem. God, these guys are good. First married couple I ever liked, and will ever like, probably.

Autolux - Capital Kind of Strain
Dark, gloomier than anything else on Future Perfect, this song makes me think of rain. Carla Azar, drummer for Autolux, is the hardest-rocking chick ever, and I don't say this very often, so take my word for it.

Blonde Redhead - Falling Man
God, I wish. This song has an Asian flare. Not because BR's singer is Japanese, I swear! I don't know, it sounds exotic. I love this band, it's from New York, it's multi ethnic, it's experimental, it has elements of shoegaze... and two thirds of it are Italian. What more can you ask for?

Peter Murphy - A Strange Kind of Love (Version 1)
Fuck, this is depressing. I bet emos would love it... of course if they didn't have My Chemical Romance stuck up their asses, infesting their blood with bad music taste and ridiculousness. Forget Bauhaus, this tune takes goth to a whole new level.

Wilco - At Least That's What You Said
Shit, am I really that depressed? Why do I listen to such depressing crap? Sad and all though, this song is really good. For crying, being miserable, and emotional cutting. Great shit by America's Radiohead. Lovely guitar solo.

Slowdive - Altogether
Dude, I am getting sad. And okay, so I love Slowdive (even more than My Bloody Valentine) and they are my favorite shoegaze band (even over My Bloody Valentine!) which might sound like blasphemy, but whatever, I am obsessed with these guys. Souvlaki quickly became one of my favorite albums, and this song is one of its highlights.

Nine Inch Nails - Every Day Is Exactly The Same
Just because I had to include some NIN on this list. Because I'm such a fangirl sometimes. Really good, though. Okay, so I could have kept the mood and gone for something more... depressed-Trent-NIN a-la The Great Below, Something I Can Never Have, or Hurt, but no, instead I chose this little video-less song off of With Teeth, and it worked. I love you chunks, Trent!

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Sugar, Sugar, Sugar
From Tender Prey, one of Nick Cave's gems, back from the coked up, fucked up, heroin addict, Anita Lane loving days, this album scares me of how good it is. If I didn't love the living shit out of Daddy Reznor, I would probably worship Nick Cave's ass. He's the original emo, yo! Not that this is a good thing, but I'm just saying.

Feist - When I Was a Young Girl
I have a healthy girl crush on Feist. This woman is great. Seriously, she kicks butt! When I grow up, I wanna be like her, I swear! Not that this will ever happen, or that I'll ever come close to it, but it can't hurt to try... or dream at least. Plus, Mushaboom makes me wanna wear a cutsey dress and go out! It's just such a happy song!

Tuxedomoon - Incubus (Blue Suit)
I love the synths, and the energy, and the eerie dready feel this song evokes. I mean, fuck, this song kind of scared me the first time I heard it. Of course, listening to it the second time around I realized I was scared at first because I am retarded and get scared of songs. But really, this band is awesome, the term 'New Wave' isn't even big enough to do them justice.

The Birthday Party - Say a Spell
Another jewel from Nick Cave's filthy mind, only more disturbing, even more coked up, more fucked up, less tame, tons more aggressive, just as brilliant as the former. Not much to say about this one. If Nick Cave's legendary name is on it, I will adore it.

The Smiths - Handsome Devil
Morrissey might be a dick, but he is one fuck of a genius. I mean it. And I'm hooked on Hatful of Hollow like you have no idea. This song has the formula right. I still don't know what it is, but me likey, so we're cool.

My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes
Sad, sad, sad. Another one of those weird tunes that makes me think of rain. These Irish lads made my days brighter and my ears hurt a bit with their beautiful noise and their Loveless album, so I will respect them infinitely until the end of our days.

Buzzcocks - A Different Kind of Tension
I love the Buzzcocks more than any other first-wave punk rock band ever, I promise. Well, okay, maybe not more than The Clash, but that's because The Clash is classic and you cannot go through life without loving them, it's a sin. But I bet they can share first place with the Buzzcocks, they don't mind! Pete Shelley's voice is a tiny bit annoying, but what the hell, these guys are so good I don't even care anymore.

Cat Power - The Sleepwalker
Another girl crush. Not so healthy this time. Fuck, it should be a crime to be Chan Marshall! How the hell am I supposed to try to be cool when she's mastered that area so fucking well it's impossible to live up to her mark?! I mean, seriously, I love her so much I hate her. This tune is taken from her gorgeous album Dear Sir, which made me develop this little crush of mine. She deserves more than just a quick listen, so don't attempt to disrespect her by downloading one song and saying it sucks. I will kick your ass if you do.

New Model Army - I Love the World
The style of these guys is so fucking hard to describe I honestly get a headache every time I think about it. This song sounds post-punk, a dash gothy, it has elements of folk... and an undeniable good amount of coolness. Respect.

Ladytron - AMTV
Fuck yes, about time! Let's get the party started right now! This is what you should be dancing to in clubs and discos and shit. Ladytron is amazing, so if you say I am a freak for dancing to Ladytron, I will beat you within an inch of your life. So do not fuck with me.

Modwheelmood - Sunday Morning
A little surprise from NIN's very own Italian Stallion, Mr. Alessandro Cortini. Who knew I would grow to love these guys with my gut. I mean, their style is definitely not something I would ordinarily come to love so much, but the fact that I do proves that they're undeniably good. Beautiful! Then again, if half of this band works for and with Trent Reznor, it's got to be something else, right?

Saul Williams - List of Demands (Reparations)
Yes! Poetic hip hop! As a rock chick with the knowledge of hip hop of... well, a rock chick, I would have never given this guy a shot if it wasn't again for Trent Reznor. But since TR has my same taste, I fell in love with Saul Williams. This tune is pretty industrial rock, in my humble, rock chick opinion, which might be why I love it to pieces, but still... hip hop is hip hop. And Saul is NiggyTardust.

A Place to Bury Strangers - She Dies
Gorgeous noise from Brooklyn. Following the paved roads of other noisy bastards like The Jesus and Mary Chain, these guys bring some new, noisier, harsher, more electronic flare to the NY indie scene. And they toured with NIN, so they're definitely on my watch list!

Bonus!
Misfits - Dig Up Her Bones
I know I already have 20 songs, but this one belongs on this list, so what the hell. Okay, so this one is here for two reasons. One, it's harsh and trashy and makes me wanna thrash against walls and hit people, so it's perfect to have a jump start at the writing that I have postponed for over a week. Two, I didn't get to go to the Misfits show! And I would have loved to see this song played live... God, I can only imagine the moshpit. On second thought, I think it was best for me not to go to the show. Still, I think the Misfits were WAAAAAY better with Glenn Danzig than with this new guy. This song is pretty cool, though.

Wheeee! Took me a while to get this done. It's actually 12:37 now, and I still haven't started to write. Whatever, this was fun. Hope anyone who reads this checks out at least one of the artists I've mentioned here. Remember, if I contributed at least in a very small amount to better your music taste, I'll die a happy woman. And if, on top of that, I ever kiss Trent Reznor, then all the better. See ya!

Listening to: Crime and the City Solution - I Have the Gun
Eating: Inspiration and knowledge...
Drinking: Tea! Fuck, it's cold!

I NEED TECH SUPPORT!!!

I am going through a major computer crisis right now. Turns out, just now, my laptop's power chord stopped working, and since my computer is an old rust bucket it doesn't run only on battery. Shit. Fuck. Goddamn. Grrr! I ordered a new chord, and apparently, it's gonna take about a week or so to get here, so... you know what that means? No computer for a whole fucking week! Haha, let's see how I pull that off. The thing is, I wouldn't be soooo depressed about this thing (well, maybe I would be) if I didn't have to actually work on my computer. I mean, it just so happens I'm taking a super intensive workshop this whole week, and I have a fuckload of homework to do. On the computer. This sucks! My very good friend Lis (I love you, silly midget, and so does Hershey!) let me borrow her cord so I can do homework and check the Meathead Perpsective for some cheap laughs to cheer me up in all my despair, which is why I'm online. Thank her for this update. Fuck! And just now I was starting to slow down on the procrastination and I was actually writing! The planets aligned to send my good fortune down the toilet. Just fantastic.

Yet not everything was bad during this weekend. Yes, I was fucking bored, excommunicated from all of modern society, back to the ice age without technology, revamping my old boombox that had a layer of dust thicker than my finger so I could listen to The Downward Spiral and cheer myself up (I know, bad idea)... yes, life was cold this weekend. But on the bright side, I FOUND SOMEONE TO COME TO COLOMBIA WITH ME! YES! Now my best friend and I are going to see the Nails and party like rockstars in Bogota... all by ourselves! No doubt our NIN experience is going to be a rich one. HELLYES!

I need music, shit! I'm slowly dimming because I don't have music to listen to! I mean, I do have my iPod, but it's not the same. I'm in agony, I swear. Before the demise of my sweet little Toshiba Satellite a105, I was able to download New Mother, by the Angels of Light, which took me a good three hours to complete, but was so fucking worth every second. I got to listen to it just now, and I am already in love with it. I honest to God would follow Michael Gira to the depths of hell. Plus, I have this Girls Under Glass record (Equilibrium) that I have to review, so that should keep me busy for the rest of the day... or until five, which is when I have to go back to school and render the cord back to its owner. I am so sad!

I won't be around for a while, I think. Not that anyone would miss me or anything, but I'm just saying... in case anyone reads this shit and wonders where I might be. Most certainly probably dying somewhere out of boredom, I assure you. But I hope I survive until the cursed new cord is here. Thanks UPS for super fast delivery!

Listening to: Angels of Light - Inner Female
Eating: Turkey bacon... yum
Drinking: O.J.

oh, Trent!

One day, one day... this man... oh God.

Ahem, but in the meantime, here I give you... THE EVOLUTION OF REZNOR!



1990 (Pretty Hate Machine/Sin)
It all started like this...

1992 (Broken)

Smash up my sanity,smash up my integrity, smash up what I believe in, smash up what's left of me.



1994 (The Downward Spiral/Self Destruct Tour)
Oh, the good old TDS days... rawr!



1997 (The Perfect Drug)
Zorro Trent is the perfect drug, the perfect drug, the perfect drug...



1999 (The Fragile)
Just like you imagined.



2002 (Tapeworm/And All That Could Have Been)
The world needs some Tapeworm (captions courtesy of Meathead).



2004 (Making With Teeth)
A-With-a Teeth-a!



2006-2007 (With Teeth/Year Zero)
Bigger, longer, uncut. just like the South Park movie.



2008 (The Slip)
And here we are. The lights in the sky are waving goodbye...

Sara's b-day.

Who knew planning a birthday party could be so fun! Here, take a look! There's even a photoshoot as proof!
















The T&I crew. Photographs, montage, design and overall concept by Cat aka Ms. Testa di Cazzo.

i luv u Meathead!

Just an homage to the pure, solid gold genius that is the Meathead Perspective.

waaaat???

Mama, you're a loser.

The Red Bull Crew

My friends Romi and Michelle, plus yours truly, drinking a fuck load of Red Bull. Good times, dude.

the return of the bitching hour

Well, okay... so today I took the bus to go to school to take the god awful finals, thinking 'oh, my hair ends are so split!' when this creepy guy I know got on. Haha it was scary. The dude is totally off, he knows nothing about approaching women, has no social skills whatsoever, says the most inappropriate stuff, creeps me out worse than Marilyn effing Manson. Some friend introduced us a while ago and god, the guy would sit next to me on the bus every day after that, then he would ask to borrow my iPod, then he'd listen to my music real loud, and then say some weird shit. And I had been avoiding him for a fuck of a long time until I completely lost him and was free to walk around school without having to hide behind trees and shrubs and benches. Until today. He sat next to me on the bus and I, taking advantage of my sunglasses, looked away from him the whole ride. He didn't say anything to me, which was a relief. But then we got to school. I swear to god, everywhere I turned, there he was! Either he was stalking me or my school is smaller than I thought. Hopefully, he'll stay away from me this upcoming semester. Otherwise his ass is going to hurt like a bitch. Mark my words.

Finals were okay. I mean, I think I totally sucked at the first, and froze at the second (it was a spoken examination), so they had to kick me out of the room and wait till everyone was done to let me back in and take the exam. So really, that's not a good sign. But they were okay.
Not really. Nerves were mainly to blame. I was late for the first exam, everyone had already started, and my mind blanked... and the second exam was a motherfucker. My voiced faltered, I think I might have said some shit like 'Southern Africa' instead of 'South Africa', and overall, in my opinion, my performance today was lackluster. This was really fucked up.

I'm a bit upset about some stuff I wish not to rant about cause it would take me a good three hours to type up every word of my frustration, but it involves one of my closest friends and my realization of a hard fact I had been in denial of until now. Bottom line: she's a bitch. Ya, I said it, and she's a hypocrite. And she's a Republican...

Men still suck. Yes, they do. And maybe so do women, but you guys, (YEAH, YOU!) are just unbelievable sometimes. I mean, fuck! Again, I will not go into detail because... well, I'm angry. Yes, I'm always angry.

Didn't get to go to the Misfits' show, which sucked balls. Instead, I stayed home, delved in the sea of my pathetic misery, and listened to the Misfits on iTunes. I did have fun, though. I remember jumping on my bed in my underwear sometime during Die, Die My Darling, and having so much fun... DIE, DIE DIE MY DARLING! So yea, I hate the people who got to go to the show, but... I sacrificed the Misfits in exchange of heaven. Perfection. Ecstatic delight and sonic rapture. Trent Reznor's deep voice singing 'I wanna f*ck you like an animal' while humping the lucky-ass mic stand. Oh, fuck yes, missing the Misfits' show was so worth it.

Me and my girlfriends are planning a roadtrip to the beach to unwind and shake the stress of this semester off of our systems. Hopefully, it will follow through. Yay, roadtrip! (so Legally Blonde, I know. Oh, fuck off, I'm a woman!)

Oh, and... I'M GETTING FUCKING PAID TOMORROW! HELLYES! Now I am even closer to god (pun intended). Colombia, here I come!

Okay, so really long rant. Hey, I'm liking this. I needed to let it all out. Even though I already did like three times at school with my friends. What can I do, I have so much to complain about!

Cat goes to sleep now. Kidding, Cat goes off to write her half-assed excuse for a novella. She probably won't write, but it's best to think she will, cause that would imply she'll go to sleep so late for a good reason. (hehe, I had never referred to me in the third person... haha, so diva-like!)

Listening to: Mercury Rev - Goddess on a Hiway
Eating: Bread. I know, bad!
Drinking: Coke Zero

the bitching hour

Damn it, I'm upset! I still haven't got paid for the subtitles I worked on nearly TWO MONTHS AGO! grrr I'm mad! I need the fucking money to go buy my ticket to see the Nails in Colombia and if I don't get the money this week, I'm gonna go all postal on Sara's ass... fuck! She promised she would pay me what she owed me by the 15th... THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST! It's the 20th and still no money. I wanna shoot someone. Seriously.

This is the final week of the semester, which means we're all stressing out about the finals and projects and whatnot... I'm bored. I'm also very pissed because the little vacation we have we'll have to spend it in some boring workshop that sounds as exciting as hearing my uncle read the newspaper at six AM. Plus, I'm broke. All my money is going to the Nails in Colombia fund (haha) and I can't even afford chewing gum! But I know the show will be worth every penny, so whatever.

The Misfits are playing here today and... oops, guess what? Since I'm currently on economical mode, I can't fucking go! This has got to be the worst week ever. I mean it.

Men are bastards, but we all know that, no further explanations needed.

Yeah, that's it, I'm done ranting... God, the internets are the shit when you wanna bitch!

Listening to: Mephisto Walz - Forest Dying
Eating: Uh... thin air?
Drinking: Tea!

... And so it is...

Hello, bloggy hearts, I'm Cat, I'm a woman and I have been alive for about nineteen years, though come November 3rd, that amazing number, under which I sometimes shield to justify juvenile behavior and general immaturity, will change to a lovely 20. Two decades. Shit, I'm old.

I will try to post some of the shit I had on my other site here, since it seems more appropriate... because it's kind of cooler to rant on a blog than on some lame chat site or whatever Badoo really is. I'll be moving all of my posts from the previous site to this blog in a few days... I guess I could very well just go ahead and start over, since most of those things will no longer make much sense... but ya, I kind of like them so whatever. Here I'll share stuff about my stupid life, my stupid school, my (sooooo not stupid) music taste, my (completely stupid yet very much addictive) obsession with Trent Reznor and anything Nine Inch Nails, and whatever I feel like ranting about, with whomever cares. So yeah, if you don't just don't read. I don't give a shit. Uh, that's it. Blah.

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Listening to: Neutral Milk Hotel - Holland, 1945
via FoxyTunes