I'm sorry, but I have lost all love and respect for my career. Translation and Interpretation, that is. At this point, I think it's stuipid, ridiculous and pathetic that I spent so much time fucking around with stupid translations and speeches trying to prove myself and pretend I'm talented at something. I am not. I'd rather spend my life waiting tables than translate for a living. Yes, this sounds spoiled, childish and pissy, but I don't care. I've never been completely certain about the career path I chose four years ago, and tonight, more than ever, I'm sure I made the wrong fucking choice.
I refuse to accept that, in order to be successful in life, I need to be smarter than anybody. I can't bear the idea of spending long, neverending hours in front of the computer thinking of nice-sounding ways of saying some boring, fucked up shit I could care less about. I'm ungrateful, I'm young and immature and unsure about my future. I give you that. But if being a translator/interpreter means being a stuck up, self-absorbed whiny cunt, I'd rather do something a little more dignifying with my time, like growing my own vegetables or learning to make synth music.
I know I'm unsure about a lot of things, but I know the very few I really like, and I know that won't ever change: Music, writing, learning, living and loving. I can't sacrifice any one of my few passions over something I've barely become used to. If I let myself lose one of the few things I still care for, it'll be like voluntarily jumping into a shark-infested ocean.
I don't know what I'm gonna do in the future. I don't even know if I'll be alive long enough to live in the future. All I know is, right now, I don't feel like I belong here, with any of you. Thanks for the memories, though.
----------------
Now playing: Delorean - Seasun
via FoxyTunes
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
July 27, 2010
May 30, 2010
On Education and Insanity
"Concern". This was the subject for an email I got from my dean last Friday. "Concern over some strong, gross comments I'd made regarding my school, the T&I department and everyone in it" last Thursday with a couple of friends. I guess you can say my opinions were very strong and uncalled for, but of all the things I've learned in my twenty one years of life, shutting up isn't one of them. So I dropped a couple angry bombs, one even literal, and ranted on about how much everything sucks and how I want to kill everyone, etc. You know, the usual angry stuff you say when you're pissed off/joking with your friends. What, you don't say that? Ok, I guess it's just me then.
Right now I think I pretty much made myself look like an asshole here, so I guess I should explain in full the circumstances under which I made such inappropriate comments. It's rather long and retarded, so whoever is reading should just sit down and grab a cup of tea or something.
As some people may know (most may not), I finished school in March. Okay, not really finished forever, but rather finished with my curriculum and awaiting the formal stuff you need in this country in order to graduate (graduation seminars, thesis, final T&I exams, Spanish proficiency exam, ice cream trip with my T&I classmates, etc.). I have been waiting for an answer as to when this wonderful stuff is gonna start happening practically all year, but hadn't bothered to ask because I had been busy one way or another, either with school or work, to actually think about it. But last week I did think about it and I got a little depressed. I felt hopeless and alone in this quest for enlightenment, and the only one to blame was my dean.
You see, the way the system works in my school, they can't open graduation seminars for less than 15 people. This wouldn't be a problem if I'd studied something normal like Economics or Law, or what-have-you, but not me. I'm never normal. I studied Translation and Interpretation, the best, most awesome major in the entire world, with the grand total of 50 students enrolled in its program. Of these 50 people, only 6, including myself, are advanced and close to graduation. And as it turns out, the people who are ready to graduate (3, myself included) have to wait for the others who are not quite ready yet, so we can all take the seminars together, cause sadly, they can't open seminars for only three students. Ya following here? Guess I'm not so much of an asshole now, am I? Well, wait, cause the best part is yet to come.
Enters the government and its fucked up nature. In 2008 a new education bill was drafted, and it stirred up some trouble, as it literally destroyed the country's entire educational system. Not sure if it's already in full effect, but it would appear so as every school is going nuts over it and students are already rioting about it. One of its main points of focus is the addition of credits to every major's curriculum. We're not talking about 10 more credits or any of that easy stuff. No, we're talking about 80 credits, give or take. Even though all government institutions clearly stated from the beginning that this law would not be retroactive, meaning it would never affect people like me and my T&I group, my school has taken upon itself the arduous task of making students miserable over the new Education Bill. That means that everyone who is about to graduate, well won't anymore, unless they take more subjects following the new curriculum and accumulate more credits.
My dean met with us a few times last year to discuss the new adjustments made to the old curricula. The evil Education Bill had pretty much destroyed my old '06 curriculum. Some of the subjects I'd taken no longer existed! But here's the cool part: Since me and my five T&I friends were already pretty close to graduation, she insisted we kept taking the classes we needed according to our initial curricula, and then, as an option, take extra courses to either get a minor or just to take classes for the sake of it and get credits for them. She explained in detail she would give us credits for practice hours, our graduation seminars/thesis/graduation exams, plus some other stuff that, if added up, gave us the desired number of 225 credits we all need now, supposedly.
So I did this. I did exactly what she said I should do. I took about 8 extra classes and, according to the dean's recommendations, I should be fine, right? Hell, with all those things she said she would give us all credits for, we were all ready to go. WRONG!
So this is where we fast forward to last week. I emailed the dean at 3 am asking her what had happened to the seminars and if she had an answer for me because, naturally, I was getting a little impatient. She replied first thing in the morning saying she was working on it, counting all my credits and adjusting them to the new curriculum, and she would give me an answer soon. And then, as typical of her, a slew of emails followed, vaguely explaining that we all needed to take extra courses because, as it turns out, the horrible, horrible Education Bill had changed yet again, and we were all short of credits. Ack. She summoned us up to a meeting on Thursday to discuss the new changes that had been made to our poor curriculum and to talk about the "great new classes she had available for us".
Ok, so the meeting with the dean went pretty much like this:
Dean: Ok, you guys need to take about 8 more subjects cause the Ministry says I can't give you credits for the seminars/thesis/exams.
Students: :O :O :O
Dean: But don't worry cause I have some great new courses for you! I'm bringing professors from Hunter College and Spain and some other great people and this is gonna be good for you!
Cat: But hey, wait a minute, I had all the credits I needed, I don't need any more courses!
Dean: Oh hey, well I don't know about that but you must have miscounted. So anyway...
Cat: No, no, look, here! I have enough credits, see?
Dean: Oh, oops! I guess I should work on that again, cause it seems I made a whoopsie and didn't adapt these 5 courses on the new curriculum. Don't worry, I'll work on that. But the rest of you guys have to take 8 more classes, otherwise you can't graduate.
Student 1: I want to kill myself.
Cat: And what about me, what do I do if I have all the credits I need?
Dean: Oh, you wait for the rest to finish taking classes and then you take the seminars with them.
*FACEPALM*
So this is when the insanity starts. I made these comments I mentioned above in my usual campy, un-serious way, in the company of close friends who understand my situation. And yes, this is when I said "I wanted to beat the living shit out of everyone at this school, cause everything is fucking bullshit and I'm sick of this fucking stupid school, hahahaha!". Yes, it's pretty bad, but dude... I'd just been told I would graduate in 2078! Whatever.
Now I don't know exactly how she found out, but she did, cause next thing I know, the dean is emailing me about how inappropriate and unprofessional I am and how disappointed she is in me and how much I suck. Yeah, yeah. Not only that, but she bothered to CC EVERYONE in the department, including professors who don't even work at the school anymore! She also sent hate emails to my friends telling them practically the same thing she told me in the first email. I obviously replied telling her that these comments were made in an informal, private setting, and they should not be taken literally, because they just express the anger of the moment over a very difficult situation I'm being put through. She replied saying I can't be two people at the same time and if this is how I am with my friends, this is how I am everywhere else. So basically, I'm an awful person. Horrible.
Dude, seriously. Cut the crap. Anyone with a little common sense would understand these comments were NOT serious and I do not want to beat them all up. And what's up with the massive CCing?! I mean, she's trying to ruin my reputation here! In all my years at school, I have had a clean record, a 4.0 GPA, several awards for outstanding academic achievement, and countless opportunities to prove myself and how capable I am, and she just ruined that for some stupid comments I made when I was angry? I know it was my fault, but come on, you can't be serious about this. Now, I don't know how I'm going to fix this, but it seems to me like such idiotic, square bullshit. Sorry to be crass, but this is how it is. If a person who gave the impression of being wise beyond her years, educated, understanding and experienced comes and gives you and your academic history the finger over some silly immature comments you made UNDER EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, then they don't deserve to be in that position, you know? And why try to ruin my reputation in the whole department? These are people who knew me and talked to me as friends, not as professors. How can I not be outraged if she's singlehandedly putting me at the top of everyone's shitlist including hers! So now I'm depressed, blackballed and hopeless.
I'm sorry, maybe I'm wrong here and she's right. I'd like to think some of my argument is right though, cause if it isn't, then the world is more fucked up than I thought. At this point, I don't care if they love me or hate me, I just want to graduate. I hope the dean understands that she ruined every single plan I had after graduation, and I am losing my head over it. I guess she doesn't, otherwise this wouldn't have ever happened.
----------------
Now playing: Alva Noto - Prototype 5
via FoxyTunes
Right now I think I pretty much made myself look like an asshole here, so I guess I should explain in full the circumstances under which I made such inappropriate comments. It's rather long and retarded, so whoever is reading should just sit down and grab a cup of tea or something.
As some people may know (most may not), I finished school in March. Okay, not really finished forever, but rather finished with my curriculum and awaiting the formal stuff you need in this country in order to graduate (graduation seminars, thesis, final T&I exams, Spanish proficiency exam, ice cream trip with my T&I classmates, etc.). I have been waiting for an answer as to when this wonderful stuff is gonna start happening practically all year, but hadn't bothered to ask because I had been busy one way or another, either with school or work, to actually think about it. But last week I did think about it and I got a little depressed. I felt hopeless and alone in this quest for enlightenment, and the only one to blame was my dean.
You see, the way the system works in my school, they can't open graduation seminars for less than 15 people. This wouldn't be a problem if I'd studied something normal like Economics or Law, or what-have-you, but not me. I'm never normal. I studied Translation and Interpretation, the best, most awesome major in the entire world, with the grand total of 50 students enrolled in its program. Of these 50 people, only 6, including myself, are advanced and close to graduation. And as it turns out, the people who are ready to graduate (3, myself included) have to wait for the others who are not quite ready yet, so we can all take the seminars together, cause sadly, they can't open seminars for only three students. Ya following here? Guess I'm not so much of an asshole now, am I? Well, wait, cause the best part is yet to come.
Enters the government and its fucked up nature. In 2008 a new education bill was drafted, and it stirred up some trouble, as it literally destroyed the country's entire educational system. Not sure if it's already in full effect, but it would appear so as every school is going nuts over it and students are already rioting about it. One of its main points of focus is the addition of credits to every major's curriculum. We're not talking about 10 more credits or any of that easy stuff. No, we're talking about 80 credits, give or take. Even though all government institutions clearly stated from the beginning that this law would not be retroactive, meaning it would never affect people like me and my T&I group, my school has taken upon itself the arduous task of making students miserable over the new Education Bill. That means that everyone who is about to graduate, well won't anymore, unless they take more subjects following the new curriculum and accumulate more credits.
My dean met with us a few times last year to discuss the new adjustments made to the old curricula. The evil Education Bill had pretty much destroyed my old '06 curriculum. Some of the subjects I'd taken no longer existed! But here's the cool part: Since me and my five T&I friends were already pretty close to graduation, she insisted we kept taking the classes we needed according to our initial curricula, and then, as an option, take extra courses to either get a minor or just to take classes for the sake of it and get credits for them. She explained in detail she would give us credits for practice hours, our graduation seminars/thesis/graduation exams, plus some other stuff that, if added up, gave us the desired number of 225 credits we all need now, supposedly.
So I did this. I did exactly what she said I should do. I took about 8 extra classes and, according to the dean's recommendations, I should be fine, right? Hell, with all those things she said she would give us all credits for, we were all ready to go. WRONG!
So this is where we fast forward to last week. I emailed the dean at 3 am asking her what had happened to the seminars and if she had an answer for me because, naturally, I was getting a little impatient. She replied first thing in the morning saying she was working on it, counting all my credits and adjusting them to the new curriculum, and she would give me an answer soon. And then, as typical of her, a slew of emails followed, vaguely explaining that we all needed to take extra courses because, as it turns out, the horrible, horrible Education Bill had changed yet again, and we were all short of credits. Ack. She summoned us up to a meeting on Thursday to discuss the new changes that had been made to our poor curriculum and to talk about the "great new classes she had available for us".
Ok, so the meeting with the dean went pretty much like this:
Dean: Ok, you guys need to take about 8 more subjects cause the Ministry says I can't give you credits for the seminars/thesis/exams.
Students: :O :O :O
Dean: But don't worry cause I have some great new courses for you! I'm bringing professors from Hunter College and Spain and some other great people and this is gonna be good for you!
Cat: But hey, wait a minute, I had all the credits I needed, I don't need any more courses!
Dean: Oh hey, well I don't know about that but you must have miscounted. So anyway...
Cat: No, no, look, here! I have enough credits, see?
Dean: Oh, oops! I guess I should work on that again, cause it seems I made a whoopsie and didn't adapt these 5 courses on the new curriculum. Don't worry, I'll work on that. But the rest of you guys have to take 8 more classes, otherwise you can't graduate.
Student 1: I want to kill myself.
Cat: And what about me, what do I do if I have all the credits I need?
Dean: Oh, you wait for the rest to finish taking classes and then you take the seminars with them.
*FACEPALM*
So this is when the insanity starts. I made these comments I mentioned above in my usual campy, un-serious way, in the company of close friends who understand my situation. And yes, this is when I said "I wanted to beat the living shit out of everyone at this school, cause everything is fucking bullshit and I'm sick of this fucking stupid school, hahahaha!". Yes, it's pretty bad, but dude... I'd just been told I would graduate in 2078! Whatever.
Now I don't know exactly how she found out, but she did, cause next thing I know, the dean is emailing me about how inappropriate and unprofessional I am and how disappointed she is in me and how much I suck. Yeah, yeah. Not only that, but she bothered to CC EVERYONE in the department, including professors who don't even work at the school anymore! She also sent hate emails to my friends telling them practically the same thing she told me in the first email. I obviously replied telling her that these comments were made in an informal, private setting, and they should not be taken literally, because they just express the anger of the moment over a very difficult situation I'm being put through. She replied saying I can't be two people at the same time and if this is how I am with my friends, this is how I am everywhere else. So basically, I'm an awful person. Horrible.
Dude, seriously. Cut the crap. Anyone with a little common sense would understand these comments were NOT serious and I do not want to beat them all up. And what's up with the massive CCing?! I mean, she's trying to ruin my reputation here! In all my years at school, I have had a clean record, a 4.0 GPA, several awards for outstanding academic achievement, and countless opportunities to prove myself and how capable I am, and she just ruined that for some stupid comments I made when I was angry? I know it was my fault, but come on, you can't be serious about this. Now, I don't know how I'm going to fix this, but it seems to me like such idiotic, square bullshit. Sorry to be crass, but this is how it is. If a person who gave the impression of being wise beyond her years, educated, understanding and experienced comes and gives you and your academic history the finger over some silly immature comments you made UNDER EXTREMELY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, then they don't deserve to be in that position, you know? And why try to ruin my reputation in the whole department? These are people who knew me and talked to me as friends, not as professors. How can I not be outraged if she's singlehandedly putting me at the top of everyone's shitlist including hers! So now I'm depressed, blackballed and hopeless.
I'm sorry, maybe I'm wrong here and she's right. I'd like to think some of my argument is right though, cause if it isn't, then the world is more fucked up than I thought. At this point, I don't care if they love me or hate me, I just want to graduate. I hope the dean understands that she ruined every single plan I had after graduation, and I am losing my head over it. I guess she doesn't, otherwise this wouldn't have ever happened.
----------------
Now playing: Alva Noto - Prototype 5
via FoxyTunes
January 23, 2009
Why am I so pissed off?
1. Marketing is the worst thing to happen to the world since nuclear weapons.
2. Rainy season makes my hair all frizzy and flat and lifeless.
3. Trent Reznor is probably gay. Either he experimented a little too much during his cokehead years that it stuck, or he never even liked chicks to begin with.
4. Meathead doesn't update his retarded site anymore.
5. Sushi is evil. It makes you eat it like it's free and once you're done you realize... it isn't -at least the kind that I ate last night isn't. It comes with its fair share of carbs and the expensive price is always paid by your thighs.
6. Despite my reluctancy to go back to my routine of '08, the aforementioned event is forcing me to put the hour and a half after Italian -that I've been using to check last.fm and sleep like a bum on my unmade bed- to good use again, and go back to the gym. Two pounds might not seem much, but when your favorite pants start feeling a bit too tight around the hips and thighs, you know you have to make some sacrifices.
7. Getting your ATM PIN mixed up is not funny. Especially when the machine blocks your card after three tries. ESPECIALLY when you have no money on you and are counting on the ATM to get you home. Seriously, and I'm supposed to be an interpreter with an exceptional memory.
8. Getting Smaller sounds like crap on iTunes today. No idea why.
9. A killer wave of writer's block has hit me with such force that I haven't been able to write anything productive/coherent/readable in over three months, despite having a very clear, outlined idea for a kickass story stuck in my head for centuries. I blame school, and its ubiquitous workload that's been stomping over my creative buzz since last year, but I am fully aware that it's all me and my inability to do well at anything I set myself to d0.
10. Can you tell I'm just fucking PROCRASTINATING majorly when I should be working on stuff that probably matters more in the real world than this blog post because I'm a complete failure of a human being??? Yes??? Well, you're totally right. And that sucks.
Playlist for today:
Dead Can Dance - The Arrival and the Reunion
Felix da Housecat - Let Your Mind Be Your Bed
Pigface - Mind Your Own Business
Curve - Want More Need Less
This Heat - S.P.Q.R.
Nurse With Wound - Woollen Numbness of Anaesthesia
Killing Joke - Complications
Interpol - Say Hello to the Angels
Nine Inch Nails -Getting Smaller Sunspots
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry - It Was Wrong
Sisters of Mercy - Driven Like the Snow
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Slowly Goes the Night
Asobi Seksu - Thursday
Cat Power - Lived in Bars
Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Epic Last Song
Wolf Parade - Language City
Patty Griffin - Nobody's Crying
New York Dolls - Personality Crisis
nearLY - Step Into the Light
The Pop Group - How Much Longer
*sigh* Here's to a long night, a long-lasting headache, and the death of my social life. Cheers.
----------------
Listening to: Radiohead - No Surprises
via FoxyTunes
2. Rainy season makes my hair all frizzy and flat and lifeless.
3. Trent Reznor is probably gay. Either he experimented a little too much during his cokehead years that it stuck, or he never even liked chicks to begin with.
4. Meathead doesn't update his retarded site anymore.
5. Sushi is evil. It makes you eat it like it's free and once you're done you realize... it isn't -at least the kind that I ate last night isn't. It comes with its fair share of carbs and the expensive price is always paid by your thighs.
6. Despite my reluctancy to go back to my routine of '08, the aforementioned event is forcing me to put the hour and a half after Italian -that I've been using to check last.fm and sleep like a bum on my unmade bed- to good use again, and go back to the gym. Two pounds might not seem much, but when your favorite pants start feeling a bit too tight around the hips and thighs, you know you have to make some sacrifices.
7. Getting your ATM PIN mixed up is not funny. Especially when the machine blocks your card after three tries. ESPECIALLY when you have no money on you and are counting on the ATM to get you home. Seriously, and I'm supposed to be an interpreter with an exceptional memory.
8. Getting Smaller sounds like crap on iTunes today. No idea why.
9. A killer wave of writer's block has hit me with such force that I haven't been able to write anything productive/coherent/readable in over three months, despite having a very clear, outlined idea for a kickass story stuck in my head for centuries. I blame school, and its ubiquitous workload that's been stomping over my creative buzz since last year, but I am fully aware that it's all me and my inability to do well at anything I set myself to d0.
10. Can you tell I'm just fucking PROCRASTINATING majorly when I should be working on stuff that probably matters more in the real world than this blog post because I'm a complete failure of a human being??? Yes??? Well, you're totally right. And that sucks.
Playlist for today:
Dead Can Dance - The Arrival and the Reunion
Felix da Housecat - Let Your Mind Be Your Bed
Pigface - Mind Your Own Business
Curve - Want More Need Less
This Heat - S.P.Q.R.
Nurse With Wound - Woollen Numbness of Anaesthesia
Killing Joke - Complications
Interpol - Say Hello to the Angels
Nine Inch Nails -
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry - It Was Wrong
Sisters of Mercy - Driven Like the Snow
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Slowly Goes the Night
Asobi Seksu - Thursday
Cat Power - Lived in Bars
Does It Offend You, Yeah? - Epic Last Song
Wolf Parade - Language City
Patty Griffin - Nobody's Crying
New York Dolls - Personality Crisis
nearLY - Step Into the Light
The Pop Group - How Much Longer
*sigh* Here's to a long night, a long-lasting headache, and the death of my social life. Cheers.
----------------
Listening to: Radiohead - No Surprises
via FoxyTunes
January 15, 2009
2KEWL4SK00L playlist
So, I started school again this week, which sucks. It's not THAAAT bad, sure. I'm not taking any simul classes this semester, which I'm more than relieved about. We took simul all of last year and by December, my brain was close to going on a coma and I was having withdrawals. I'm totally serious. Sure, by the time we pick it back up to practice for our final final final exams we're all gonna suck balls, but at least we got five or so months to enjoy life in a simul-free world. Because I want to graduate as soon as possible and start considering the (few) options I have for the future, I'm working my ass off all of this semester, which means, I'm probably gonna die by the end of February.
I really don't wanna die, though. I would love to stay alive at least until I turn twenty-one and am able to drink legally in the U.S. of Hell. Or at least until I save enough money to see Trent Resner's shiny, so-not-leather pants live. But the way I see it, it's gonna take a lot of will power, a lot of strength -which I don't have cause I'm a wimp,- and a lot of good music to keep me going. Oh, and cutting classes is always a bonus. Especially when it rains so much you can't leave the house. Like today, I totally cut Italianso I could stay home like a lazy parasite of society and write a totally meaningless blog entry because the sky had the runs and it was so bad my whole street was flooded. Oops.
Now, if I'm planning to survive these next two months, I'm gonna have to bring my A-game every day, and load my iPod with powerful musical nukes to annihilate every trace of weakness that might appear. And now that I just so happened to be stranded at home, courtesy of the ever-so-welcome South American rains, I'm gonna just go ahead and make a killah playlist to totally blow up the grim reaper and stay on my feet.
Caution: This is a long one, twenty songs full of badass, so if you have a heart condition, or bad taste in music, I recommend that you get the hell out of here as soon as you can.
Hüsker Dü - Turn On the News
Most of my smart thinkings usually occur while I'm on the school bus. I guess it's probably because I spend so much time on it, and because that's like the only time I have to actually think without having the annoying puppy biting my toes or the annoying bitches making me laugh. Most of my (totally unoriginal) ideas for stories I have had them on the bus. I discovered the true meaning of life on the bus. Actually, the idea of this stupid blog post came to me yesterday while I was crossing the bridge on my way to the boring six o'clock class, and appropriately enough, it came to me while listening to this little number. This song has the right amount of punk rock energy, but it's not Black Flag-hardcore, so it's perfect for me. No, I don't like hardcore. No, I don't like Black Flag. Hüsker Dü is a very interesting band; while their early stuff is very Black Flaggy, their later works are softer, more melodic, more pop, and definitely more likable for Cat. What's even weirder is that their first album, Everything Falls Apart, is the most hardcore thing they ever did, and is my favorite of theirs. This song is taken from their second release, Zen Arcade, which is one of the best albums ever, no contest. I love how they mixed punk with jazzy beats and psychedelia in this record, and I love how this song is the epitome of experimental punk, and the epitome of energy. That guitar solo is so yummy, holy crap!
Interpol - PDA
I seem to stumble upon an Interpol song every single fucking time I make a playlist. It's actually stupid how I seem to find an appropriate song by these mofos for every mood I'm in. That probably shows how versatile they are, but it's annoying, nevertheless. It's such a shame that I love them so much. This is not as strong as the previous song, but it's a good transition, I think. It's still energetic, in its very Interpol-y way, and it's a bit dark, in my opinion. All of the Turn On the Bright Lights album is a bit short of light. Must be all of that Joy Division. This is the first Interpol song I ever loved, and even though I moved on and found others to profess my feelings for, PDA and I still have a special relationship. I wish I could say the same about my exes, but that's another reason why music is my current boyfriend. Very rhythmic, the relationship between the vocals and the guitars is so beautifully intertwined and carefully made it's impressive.
Foetus (Inc.) - Wash (It All Off)
Damn, that J.G. Thirlwell and his happy industrial shit. It's really hard to talk about industrial without bringing up this guy's name(s), and it makes me really happy to hear that he's still pretty active in the music scene of Brooklyn today. Foetus is one of those weird seminal bands you can't really pigeonhole in one genre, you can't really decipher their style, you can't really point out why you love it, but you can't really deny is good. Clint Ruin, J.G. Thirlwell, Frank Want, kickass motherfucker, whatever his name is at the time, has made some of the most interesting music the world has ever heard, and yet it's so underrated it's pathetic. There would be no Nine Inch Nails, not the NIN we all know and love, if it wasn't for this guy. There would be no Kill MotherFucking Depeche Mode without this guy. There would be no good industrial music without this guy. He belongs to that exclusive elite of industrial pioneers such as Coil, Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Psychic TV, among others, that helped give this genre an identity. This is an edited version of a six-minute song from the Wash/Slog EP, included on the remix album Sink. Obviously happy and filled with enough energy to make you dizzy, I bet you'll at least crack a smile at Ruin's 'supercalifragilisticsadomasochism.'
The Fall - The Classical
Totally switching gears here, I'm back to my old post punk roots and present you The Fall. Another extremely influential band that you cannot NOT give a listen, if you know what's best for you. Just think about this: if you like Pavement, Editors, the Strokes, the Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, the Smiths, Nirvana, or whatever new hipster, flavor-of-the-month band is out there right now, you're unconsciously liking The Fall. Yup, all those guys take from these guys, some more originally and not so shamelessly, though. Hex Induction Hour is a sweet little treat, more melodic than their four previous releases, yet keeping the same noisy formula that they brought to the roster with Live at the Witch Trials. This is a fun song, the riff is too awesome for words, and it's guaranteed to brighten any kind of shitty day.
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Chicken
I'm being random, I know. I can't have some continuity in this playlist, goddammit! Okay, so I admit I had no interest in this band whatsoever. First, the name is retarded -I'm musically judgmental, which is why I never really liked the Dandy Warhols. I mean, talk about retarded names...- and I have learned in my measly twenty years of existence that stupid bands have stupid names. So no. Second, the whole psychobilly genre is too much of a joke, in my opinion. I know there are lots of good bands representing that 'genre' such as The Cramps, The Gun Club, blah blah, but I don't think that name leads people to think it is worthy of respect. Sorry, it just makes me think it's a hybrid of Elvis and Rozz Williams. Hmmm... Third, the band members actually look like a joke. Seriously, WTF? But then Reznorman came to the rescue and cleaned up the good name of these guys by picking their guitarist, Rich Fownes, as the preliminary bassist for the Lights in the Sky tour. Of course, he kicked him out later and replaced him with the afro-sporting, cool-looking Justin Meldal-Johnsen, of Beck fame, but it was too late, I'd already got a copy of TEMBLD's debut album, Hörse Of the Dög. Fuck me, it was actually not bad. Moral of the story: don't be judgmental, unless you wanna get kicked in the ass. Yes, this is a cool song, the guitar in this song is rather simple, but the instrumentation is pretty well done, and the screams are creepy, but they work this time.
Datarock - The New Song
This was a rec from a good friend. I know I'm the worst kind of picky person when it comes to music, and it takes a little bit of work to get me to like something, which is why some people usually refrain from recommending songs to me. I frustrated my friend with my astounding ability to dislike every single song he sent my way, but at least I liked this one. I'm probably not that bad, then. These guys are from somewhere in Scandinavian Europe, I think. Norway, if I remember correctly. I didn't think Scandinavian Europe had synth music to offer, I thought most of their musical exports were in the metal genre. Then again, I thought Scandinavian Europeans didn't make folk, and... whoops, Kings of Convenience, anyone? Nordic Europe is a progressive, region, I know. This song starts out with a creepy, Phantom-of-the-Opera-like synth part, and then starts to rock. Rock hard! That's cool, cause I hardly ever encounter good electronic music mixed so well with rock. This is a rather short song, but its condensed power is enough to punch you in the face and make you damn angry!
The Clash - White Riot
There's not much I can say about The Clash. They're obviously good. They used to be one of my five favorite bands, at the least, back in '02/'03-ish. They made me like punk rock. They're probably my favorite first-wave punk rock band, as I remember saying on a previous post. That's it. And this song is particularly special. It sounds so old, and so early-punk-rock. So 1976. That's why I love it. It reminds me of such good times... my youth, my friends, NYC. (No, I wasn't alive in '76. My mom was barely four in '76! I just listened to a lot of those early punk rock bands when I was young, like the big music snob that I was). From their debut album, obviously a must-have, this song is filled with kickassery, it screams debauchery!
Butthole Surfers - Dust Devil
Gibby Haynes is a weird man. He and Jello Biafra should get married and have lovely, musical genius babies who would probably make the world a better place. The Butthole Surfers are a noisy, hilarious band that made one of my favorite albums growing up: Independent Worm Saloon. Now, I'm not a huge fan of the American alternative music scene of the '90s; in fact, other than Nine Inch Nails, the occasional Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins play, and some riot grrrl in small doses, I really hate the nineties. But these guys make it all so much better. Sure, maybe because they weren't as overratedplayed as their more commercial counterparts, they were much more interesting. And maybe because Gibby Haynes has a sense of humor, he's not obnoxious like Billy Corgan. Whatever the reason, I will always have a place in mah mangled heart for the Butthole Surfers, and their noisy alt-rock. As a huge fan of sludgy guitars, I picked this song because its face-melting solo towards the end is brilliant.
Fischerspooner - Never Win
This is a more toned-down song, which is the worst transition ever, but what the hell. There's a whole lot of energetic, vibrant songs on Fischerspooner's #1 album to choose from that would fit perfectly in this playlist, but I had to go for the odd one, the only song I have from the Odyssey album. It's the single, the only Fischerspooner song the popular masses have probably heard. It's just so damn good I can't help it! It has that je ne sais quoi that makes me feel rather inspired, hopeful and determined, which is exactly what I need to put up a good fight against school and its bastard work load. (Pardon my French, I seem to be working especially hard on becoming a horribly obnoxious bitch).
The Birthday Party - Zoo Music Girl
Nick Cave makes the list yet again. This man has been the ghost haunting my music selections ever since I was brainwashed into buying my first Birthday Party album. I'm cool with that, so I'm not complaining. Cave's voice is so scary it makes me reach out and hold my stuffed Spongebob Squarepants (forget I mentioned that) every time I hear it. It's even three times scarier in this song. I don't know, this song is supposed to be rather upbeat, but it turned out to be creepier than most, already-disturbing-enough Birthday Party songs. The wind instrumentation is probably to blame. It makes me think of chaos, like a riot in the streets or something like that. I have no idea why I haven't listened to this song as much as, say, Junkyard, but holy shit, it's good. I'm just starting to realize that.
ADULT. - Get Me Out
More electroclash. I'm a big fan of electroclash, as I've probably evidenced already with my OCD-ish thing for Ladytron. ADULT. is a nice badass duo of married people, which I didn't think could be so exciting. I got my first taste of ADULT. when I listened to the Death in Vegas song Hands Around My Throat, which featured Nicola Kuperus on sexy vocals. Haha, actually, this woman's voice is anything but sexy. In fact, it's like a caged banshee screaming to a pulsing synth. That's exactly why I love it. Remember what I mentioned above about synth music mixed with rock? Well, no one does it as good and sexy as El Rezzo, of course, but these guys do pull off a nice eclectic mix. This is from the D.U.M.E. EP, and these guys are from Detroit. I haven't really liked anything from the Midwest this much since probably WaxTrax! so... yeah, two thumbs up.
Pop Will Eat Itself - Wise Up! Sucker
Exactly. Wise up! suckasss and stop listening to shitty numetal! This is another band I was encouraged to like by Trent Reznor. The Poppies were one of the exclusive bands signed with Trent'svanity label, Nothing, and they toured with NIN for a few nights as a part of the Nights of Nothing ensemble. I started listening to them a few years ago, and I really like their Brit-hop style (I have no idea what Brit-hop is, but I made it up as a mix between British and hip hop, which is more like what the Poppies are all about), which I've heard some people call Grebo. It's fun and different and funky. Some claim the Poppies sold out and changed their Grebo formula for a more industrial sound per request of Reznor, so they could fit in with the rest of the Nothing artists, but that's just pointless crap. I really don't see that big a stylistic difference between this record, This Is the Day...This Is the Hour...This is This!, and Dos Dedos Mis Amigos, their '95 Nothing Records release. News flash, people: They have ALWAYS been industrial! The Rezzinator had nothing to do with that! Okay, maybe he did have one minute bit do with that, but that's just cause he's infectious, like a good virus.
Peaches - I Don't Give A...
This bitch is crazy, honestly. Only she could take Joan Jett's iconic punk rock anthem, Bad Reputation, and make it so politically incorrect it makes me blush. It's a short one, but contains more profanity than your average South Park episode, your average Howard Stern show, and your average Cat from Occupied Town blog post. Obviously, she picked up something from Reznor. My guess is, in order to make her worthy of an opening slot for NIN, he trained her in the arts of Proper Fuck Placement, with a little help from my friend Meathead, and taught her a thing or two about screaming. It worked. This is an inspirational song, the kind of song that makes me want to start a revolution and be a badass biatch. Of course, that'll never happen cause I'm a good girl, but at least I can fantasize. Simul? I dont give a fuck!!! Passato prossimo? I dont give a shit!!! Life? I don't give a shit, I don't give a fuck, I don't give a fuckkkkk!!! Thank you, Peaches, that was so therapeutic.
Editors - Bones
Post punk revival, in the same melodic vein of Interpol, but not so gloomy and despairing. This song is very hopeful, it gives me warm feelings that only music and my puppy can give. It's obvious that these guys were going to be one of my favorite bands, I'm more predictable than you think, and I'm a sucker for this kind of jams. The guitars in this song, and all Editors songs, for that matter, are rich and gripping, making a good post mortem tribute to Joy Division and the Chameleons. The words are somewhat cheesy, not enough to make me puke, but rather just the right amount.
The Damned - Neat Neat Neat
Another first wave punk rock band. Another band that sounds very '76. These guys initiated a whole movement, yet are underrated and usually forgotten. Truth is, these guys were the first of the whole bunch of punk rock bands to emerge from the hawt Summer of Hate. No one remembers this, though. These guys are just as good as The Clash, just as good as the Sex Pistols, not as good as the Buzzcocks, though, but that's cause the Buzzcocks are not from this planet, and alien forces from Pluto provide them with supernatural abilities to kick ass. I can't talk down on the Damned, their Damned Damned Damned album, where I got this song from, is raw and angsty and adolescent, like only punk rawk can be. Rock on!
Nine Inch Nails - Last
Here it is, my NIN selection for this playlist. I bet you were all waiting for it to show, right? This fucking sexy track belongs to a killer EP entitled Broken, which is capable of giving you a musical beating like no other record can. And, of course, since I'm at war with school and I'm doing this to gather enough courage and strength to win, I had to include anything from Broken. I have so many things to say about this song but can't cause they're all X-rated and explicit. There's something about this blatant aggression, this ear-raping sound that simply turns me on. Also, this is one of the best guitar tracks in the entire NIN catalog, just as good as the epic We're in This Together and the sorrowful The Fragile. I wish I could see this song live, but sadly, Reznor is still quite fond of his vocal chords, so he probably won't submit them to the pain of singing this song ever again. Same goes to WITT, and this is why life sucks.
Eagles of Death Metal - Anything 'cept the Truth
I hated, hated, hated the Eagles of Death Metal. A few months ago I would have rather cut off my ears and pulled a Van Gogh than listen to these guys, but like I said, life sucks, and it hates me. Guess what, I got another beating for being judgmental. I don't like stoner rock, I don't like Kyuss, I don't like the Screaming Trees, I don't like Days of the New, I only like Queens of the Stone Age in small portions, like carbs. Why the hell would I like Eagles of Death Metal? Sure, cause they're not entirely stoner rock. In all honesty, I still don't like them really, but this song is cool. Probably because it's from a brand new album, which maybe doesn't suck donkey genitals. I have had a few nice moments listening to this song, I have had some good feelings listening to this song. I have played air guitar listening to this song (forget I mentioned that, too), and now I'm just obsessed with it. Plus, I think I heard a tambourine mid song. Yay! Tambourine!
The Runaways - Rock & Roll
I didn't like the Runaways at first. Hell, I hardly ever like an all-female band, which is the biggest contradiction and irony ever, since I am entirely sure I hate eighty percent of the male population of this world. I have had this album for a while and never gave it an unbiased listen until a couple months ago. I still don't love it, but it's undeniably fun and catchy and... old! This is what punk rock is all about, and so far I like it more than I like today's formulaic Green Day-inspired pop-punk bullshit. I'm not a fan of either of these chicks as solo artists, but as an ensemble, they made some cool shit. It might be a bit hit or miss to me, but this song is bubbly, but unapproachable at the same time, and the vocals are energetic enough to make the cut.
Skrewdriver - Backstreet Kids
A Nazi band! That's a first! So, I hate these guys with my life just because they dare to encourage a cruel, archaic, outdated and plain dumbass ideology, but their music is quite listenable. I would never support a band that furthers hatred, which is why I didn't even buy this album, I just downloaded it off a blog or something; but at least they weren't all the way into neo-Nazism when they released it. All Skrewed Up contains practically no references to their far-right politics, so I don't feel terribly guilty listening to it. So, kids, xenophobia is bad, but Skrewdriver's All Skrewed Up is okay. It's punk rock, so it's a perfect ammunition to save when the war gets tough.
The Jesus Lizard - Too Bad About the Fire
So, I've covered about every style of music I like in this playlist, and I'm happy about that. Noise rock is somewhat of an acquired taste to me, and to some people also. While I'm not a huge fan of the entire genre, I am a big Steve Albini fan, so I'll automatically try anything he's put his talented paws on. Given that he produced some of their albums, and had considerable input in their music, I couldn't help liking this band. And even though Shot, the album from which this song is taken, was not produced by Albini, I still liked it simply because it's the Jesus fucking Lizard. This song came to me right before I started writing this entry, which seems like a week ago. It's really aggressive and irritable, so proceed with caution.
Bonus!
Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot
LOL, I'm saving this one for when the semester ends and I come out victorious to announce my triumph. This song is very, very, VERY trippy, and dream-like, and sad. And it's also bipolar, because it starts off like that and then switches to noisy-guitar crazy. Kim Gordon's prose is so beautiful and poetic in its spontaneity, so fragile and haunting, like one of those delicate crystal thingees I can't get anywhere near cause I would most likely wind up breaking. One of the best songs ever, it should come as no surprise that it was released in '88, the most awesome year ever. The year Trent Reznor got signed with the backstabbing, money grubbing whores of TVT. The year of The Land of Rape and Honey, Joy Division's Substance, Barbed Wire Kisses, The Serpent's Egg and Bug. Also, the year the world was introduced to the wonderful, charming human being that is yours truly. And this song, thanks to the visual aid of Daydream Nation's cover art, the lit candle standing alone in a dark background, is always encouraging, engaging and poignant.
I started writing this a hell of a long time ago, and now I have to go to school again. I'm not gonna be a total lazy ass and stay home all day! I'm not that big a failure as a human being. I'm content with the feeling of laying out the rules of the game and being ready to fight with all that's in me to keep it together through these dark times. So, it's on, bitch. The war has just begun...
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Listening to: She Wants Revenge - Spend the Night
Eating: Nothing until I burn off the outrageously huge dish of pasta I ate last night.
Drinking: Water
I really don't wanna die, though. I would love to stay alive at least until I turn twenty-one and am able to drink legally in the U.S. of Hell. Or at least until I save enough money to see Trent Resner's shiny, so-not-leather pants live. But the way I see it, it's gonna take a lot of will power, a lot of strength -which I don't have cause I'm a wimp,- and a lot of good music to keep me going. Oh, and cutting classes is always a bonus. Especially when it rains so much you can't leave the house. Like today, I totally cut Italian
Now, if I'm planning to survive these next two months, I'm gonna have to bring my A-game every day, and load my iPod with powerful musical nukes to annihilate every trace of weakness that might appear. And now that I just so happened to be stranded at home, courtesy of the ever-so-welcome South American rains, I'm gonna just go ahead and make a killah playlist to totally blow up the grim reaper and stay on my feet.
Caution: This is a long one, twenty songs full of badass, so if you have a heart condition, or bad taste in music, I recommend that you get the hell out of here as soon as you can.
Hüsker Dü - Turn On the News
Most of my smart thinkings usually occur while I'm on the school bus. I guess it's probably because I spend so much time on it, and because that's like the only time I have to actually think without having the annoying puppy biting my toes or the annoying bitches making me laugh. Most of my (totally unoriginal) ideas for stories I have had them on the bus. I discovered the true meaning of life on the bus. Actually, the idea of this stupid blog post came to me yesterday while I was crossing the bridge on my way to the boring six o'clock class, and appropriately enough, it came to me while listening to this little number. This song has the right amount of punk rock energy, but it's not Black Flag-hardcore, so it's perfect for me. No, I don't like hardcore. No, I don't like Black Flag. Hüsker Dü is a very interesting band; while their early stuff is very Black Flaggy, their later works are softer, more melodic, more pop, and definitely more likable for Cat. What's even weirder is that their first album, Everything Falls Apart, is the most hardcore thing they ever did, and is my favorite of theirs. This song is taken from their second release, Zen Arcade, which is one of the best albums ever, no contest. I love how they mixed punk with jazzy beats and psychedelia in this record, and I love how this song is the epitome of experimental punk, and the epitome of energy. That guitar solo is so yummy, holy crap!
Interpol - PDA
I seem to stumble upon an Interpol song every single fucking time I make a playlist. It's actually stupid how I seem to find an appropriate song by these mofos for every mood I'm in. That probably shows how versatile they are, but it's annoying, nevertheless. It's such a shame that I love them so much. This is not as strong as the previous song, but it's a good transition, I think. It's still energetic, in its very Interpol-y way, and it's a bit dark, in my opinion. All of the Turn On the Bright Lights album is a bit short of light. Must be all of that Joy Division. This is the first Interpol song I ever loved, and even though I moved on and found others to profess my feelings for, PDA and I still have a special relationship. I wish I could say the same about my exes, but that's another reason why music is my current boyfriend. Very rhythmic, the relationship between the vocals and the guitars is so beautifully intertwined and carefully made it's impressive.
Foetus (Inc.) - Wash (It All Off)
Damn, that J.G. Thirlwell and his happy industrial shit. It's really hard to talk about industrial without bringing up this guy's name(s), and it makes me really happy to hear that he's still pretty active in the music scene of Brooklyn today. Foetus is one of those weird seminal bands you can't really pigeonhole in one genre, you can't really decipher their style, you can't really point out why you love it, but you can't really deny is good. Clint Ruin, J.G. Thirlwell, Frank Want, kickass motherfucker, whatever his name is at the time, has made some of the most interesting music the world has ever heard, and yet it's so underrated it's pathetic. There would be no Nine Inch Nails, not the NIN we all know and love, if it wasn't for this guy. There would be no Kill MotherFucking Depeche Mode without this guy. There would be no good industrial music without this guy. He belongs to that exclusive elite of industrial pioneers such as Coil, Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Psychic TV, among others, that helped give this genre an identity. This is an edited version of a six-minute song from the Wash/Slog EP, included on the remix album Sink. Obviously happy and filled with enough energy to make you dizzy, I bet you'll at least crack a smile at Ruin's 'supercalifragilisticsadomasochism.'
The Fall - The Classical
Totally switching gears here, I'm back to my old post punk roots and present you The Fall. Another extremely influential band that you cannot NOT give a listen, if you know what's best for you. Just think about this: if you like Pavement, Editors, the Strokes, the Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, the Smiths, Nirvana, or whatever new hipster, flavor-of-the-month band is out there right now, you're unconsciously liking The Fall. Yup, all those guys take from these guys, some more originally and not so shamelessly, though. Hex Induction Hour is a sweet little treat, more melodic than their four previous releases, yet keeping the same noisy formula that they brought to the roster with Live at the Witch Trials. This is a fun song, the riff is too awesome for words, and it's guaranteed to brighten any kind of shitty day.
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster - Chicken
I'm being random, I know. I can't have some continuity in this playlist, goddammit! Okay, so I admit I had no interest in this band whatsoever. First, the name is retarded -I'm musically judgmental, which is why I never really liked the Dandy Warhols. I mean, talk about retarded names...- and I have learned in my measly twenty years of existence that stupid bands have stupid names. So no. Second, the whole psychobilly genre is too much of a joke, in my opinion. I know there are lots of good bands representing that 'genre' such as The Cramps, The Gun Club, blah blah, but I don't think that name leads people to think it is worthy of respect. Sorry, it just makes me think it's a hybrid of Elvis and Rozz Williams. Hmmm... Third, the band members actually look like a joke. Seriously, WTF? But then Reznorman came to the rescue and cleaned up the good name of these guys by picking their guitarist, Rich Fownes, as the preliminary bassist for the Lights in the Sky tour. Of course, he kicked him out later and replaced him with the afro-sporting, cool-looking Justin Meldal-Johnsen, of Beck fame, but it was too late, I'd already got a copy of TEMBLD's debut album, Hörse Of the Dög. Fuck me, it was actually not bad. Moral of the story: don't be judgmental, unless you wanna get kicked in the ass. Yes, this is a cool song, the guitar in this song is rather simple, but the instrumentation is pretty well done, and the screams are creepy, but they work this time.
Datarock - The New Song
This was a rec from a good friend. I know I'm the worst kind of picky person when it comes to music, and it takes a little bit of work to get me to like something, which is why some people usually refrain from recommending songs to me. I frustrated my friend with my astounding ability to dislike every single song he sent my way, but at least I liked this one. I'm probably not that bad, then. These guys are from somewhere in Scandinavian Europe, I think. Norway, if I remember correctly. I didn't think Scandinavian Europe had synth music to offer, I thought most of their musical exports were in the metal genre. Then again, I thought Scandinavian Europeans didn't make folk, and... whoops, Kings of Convenience, anyone? Nordic Europe is a progressive, region, I know. This song starts out with a creepy, Phantom-of-the-Opera-like synth part, and then starts to rock. Rock hard! That's cool, cause I hardly ever encounter good electronic music mixed so well with rock. This is a rather short song, but its condensed power is enough to punch you in the face and make you damn angry!
The Clash - White Riot
There's not much I can say about The Clash. They're obviously good. They used to be one of my five favorite bands, at the least, back in '02/'03-ish. They made me like punk rock. They're probably my favorite first-wave punk rock band, as I remember saying on a previous post. That's it. And this song is particularly special. It sounds so old, and so early-punk-rock. So 1976. That's why I love it. It reminds me of such good times... my youth, my friends, NYC. (No, I wasn't alive in '76. My mom was barely four in '76! I just listened to a lot of those early punk rock bands when I was young, like the big music snob that I was). From their debut album, obviously a must-have, this song is filled with kickassery, it screams debauchery!
Butthole Surfers - Dust Devil
Gibby Haynes is a weird man. He and Jello Biafra should get married and have lovely, musical genius babies who would probably make the world a better place. The Butthole Surfers are a noisy, hilarious band that made one of my favorite albums growing up: Independent Worm Saloon. Now, I'm not a huge fan of the American alternative music scene of the '90s; in fact, other than Nine Inch Nails, the occasional Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins play, and some riot grrrl in small doses, I really hate the nineties. But these guys make it all so much better. Sure, maybe because they weren't as over
Fischerspooner - Never Win
This is a more toned-down song, which is the worst transition ever, but what the hell. There's a whole lot of energetic, vibrant songs on Fischerspooner's #1 album to choose from that would fit perfectly in this playlist, but I had to go for the odd one, the only song I have from the Odyssey album. It's the single, the only Fischerspooner song the popular masses have probably heard. It's just so damn good I can't help it! It has that je ne sais quoi that makes me feel rather inspired, hopeful and determined, which is exactly what I need to put up a good fight against school and its bastard work load. (Pardon my French, I seem to be working especially hard on becoming a horribly obnoxious bitch).
The Birthday Party - Zoo Music Girl
Nick Cave makes the list yet again. This man has been the ghost haunting my music selections ever since I was brainwashed into buying my first Birthday Party album. I'm cool with that, so I'm not complaining. Cave's voice is so scary it makes me reach out and hold my stuffed Spongebob Squarepants (forget I mentioned that) every time I hear it. It's even three times scarier in this song. I don't know, this song is supposed to be rather upbeat, but it turned out to be creepier than most, already-disturbing-enough Birthday Party songs. The wind instrumentation is probably to blame. It makes me think of chaos, like a riot in the streets or something like that. I have no idea why I haven't listened to this song as much as, say, Junkyard, but holy shit, it's good. I'm just starting to realize that.
ADULT. - Get Me Out
More electroclash. I'm a big fan of electroclash, as I've probably evidenced already with my OCD-ish thing for Ladytron. ADULT. is a nice badass duo of married people, which I didn't think could be so exciting. I got my first taste of ADULT. when I listened to the Death in Vegas song Hands Around My Throat, which featured Nicola Kuperus on sexy vocals. Haha, actually, this woman's voice is anything but sexy. In fact, it's like a caged banshee screaming to a pulsing synth. That's exactly why I love it. Remember what I mentioned above about synth music mixed with rock? Well, no one does it as good and sexy as El Rezzo, of course, but these guys do pull off a nice eclectic mix. This is from the D.U.M.E. EP, and these guys are from Detroit. I haven't really liked anything from the Midwest this much since probably WaxTrax! so... yeah, two thumbs up.
Pop Will Eat Itself - Wise Up! Sucker
Exactly. Wise up! suckasss and stop listening to shitty numetal! This is another band I was encouraged to like by Trent Reznor. The Poppies were one of the exclusive bands signed with Trent's
Peaches - I Don't Give A...
This bitch is crazy, honestly. Only she could take Joan Jett's iconic punk rock anthem, Bad Reputation, and make it so politically incorrect it makes me blush. It's a short one, but contains more profanity than your average South Park episode, your average Howard Stern show, and your average Cat from Occupied Town blog post. Obviously, she picked up something from Reznor. My guess is, in order to make her worthy of an opening slot for NIN, he trained her in the arts of Proper Fuck Placement, with a little help from my friend Meathead, and taught her a thing or two about screaming. It worked. This is an inspirational song, the kind of song that makes me want to start a revolution and be a badass biatch. Of course, that'll never happen cause I'm a good girl, but at least I can fantasize. Simul? I dont give a fuck!!! Passato prossimo? I dont give a shit!!! Life? I don't give a shit, I don't give a fuck, I don't give a fuckkkkk!!! Thank you, Peaches, that was so therapeutic.
Editors - Bones
Post punk revival, in the same melodic vein of Interpol, but not so gloomy and despairing. This song is very hopeful, it gives me warm feelings that only music and my puppy can give. It's obvious that these guys were going to be one of my favorite bands, I'm more predictable than you think, and I'm a sucker for this kind of jams. The guitars in this song, and all Editors songs, for that matter, are rich and gripping, making a good post mortem tribute to Joy Division and the Chameleons. The words are somewhat cheesy, not enough to make me puke, but rather just the right amount.
The Damned - Neat Neat Neat
Another first wave punk rock band. Another band that sounds very '76. These guys initiated a whole movement, yet are underrated and usually forgotten. Truth is, these guys were the first of the whole bunch of punk rock bands to emerge from the hawt Summer of Hate. No one remembers this, though. These guys are just as good as The Clash, just as good as the Sex Pistols, not as good as the Buzzcocks, though, but that's cause the Buzzcocks are not from this planet, and alien forces from Pluto provide them with supernatural abilities to kick ass. I can't talk down on the Damned, their Damned Damned Damned album, where I got this song from, is raw and angsty and adolescent, like only punk rawk can be. Rock on!
Nine Inch Nails - Last
Here it is, my NIN selection for this playlist. I bet you were all waiting for it to show, right? This fucking sexy track belongs to a killer EP entitled Broken, which is capable of giving you a musical beating like no other record can. And, of course, since I'm at war with school and I'm doing this to gather enough courage and strength to win, I had to include anything from Broken. I have so many things to say about this song but can't cause they're all X-rated and explicit. There's something about this blatant aggression, this ear-raping sound that simply turns me on. Also, this is one of the best guitar tracks in the entire NIN catalog, just as good as the epic We're in This Together and the sorrowful The Fragile. I wish I could see this song live, but sadly, Reznor is still quite fond of his vocal chords, so he probably won't submit them to the pain of singing this song ever again. Same goes to WITT, and this is why life sucks.
Eagles of Death Metal - Anything 'cept the Truth
I hated, hated, hated the Eagles of Death Metal. A few months ago I would have rather cut off my ears and pulled a Van Gogh than listen to these guys, but like I said, life sucks, and it hates me. Guess what, I got another beating for being judgmental. I don't like stoner rock, I don't like Kyuss, I don't like the Screaming Trees, I don't like Days of the New, I only like Queens of the Stone Age in small portions, like carbs. Why the hell would I like Eagles of Death Metal? Sure, cause they're not entirely stoner rock. In all honesty, I still don't like them really, but this song is cool. Probably because it's from a brand new album, which maybe doesn't suck donkey genitals. I have had a few nice moments listening to this song, I have had some good feelings listening to this song. I have played air guitar listening to this song (forget I mentioned that, too), and now I'm just obsessed with it. Plus, I think I heard a tambourine mid song. Yay! Tambourine!
The Runaways - Rock & Roll
I didn't like the Runaways at first. Hell, I hardly ever like an all-female band, which is the biggest contradiction and irony ever, since I am entirely sure I hate eighty percent of the male population of this world. I have had this album for a while and never gave it an unbiased listen until a couple months ago. I still don't love it, but it's undeniably fun and catchy and... old! This is what punk rock is all about, and so far I like it more than I like today's formulaic Green Day-inspired pop-punk bullshit. I'm not a fan of either of these chicks as solo artists, but as an ensemble, they made some cool shit. It might be a bit hit or miss to me, but this song is bubbly, but unapproachable at the same time, and the vocals are energetic enough to make the cut.
Skrewdriver - Backstreet Kids
A Nazi band! That's a first! So, I hate these guys with my life just because they dare to encourage a cruel, archaic, outdated and plain dumbass ideology, but their music is quite listenable. I would never support a band that furthers hatred, which is why I didn't even buy this album, I just downloaded it off a blog or something; but at least they weren't all the way into neo-Nazism when they released it. All Skrewed Up contains practically no references to their far-right politics, so I don't feel terribly guilty listening to it. So, kids, xenophobia is bad, but Skrewdriver's All Skrewed Up is okay. It's punk rock, so it's a perfect ammunition to save when the war gets tough.
The Jesus Lizard - Too Bad About the Fire
So, I've covered about every style of music I like in this playlist, and I'm happy about that. Noise rock is somewhat of an acquired taste to me, and to some people also. While I'm not a huge fan of the entire genre, I am a big Steve Albini fan, so I'll automatically try anything he's put his talented paws on. Given that he produced some of their albums, and had considerable input in their music, I couldn't help liking this band. And even though Shot, the album from which this song is taken, was not produced by Albini, I still liked it simply because it's the Jesus fucking Lizard. This song came to me right before I started writing this entry, which seems like a week ago. It's really aggressive and irritable, so proceed with caution.
Bonus!
Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot
LOL, I'm saving this one for when the semester ends and I come out victorious to announce my triumph. This song is very, very, VERY trippy, and dream-like, and sad. And it's also bipolar, because it starts off like that and then switches to noisy-guitar crazy. Kim Gordon's prose is so beautiful and poetic in its spontaneity, so fragile and haunting, like one of those delicate crystal thingees I can't get anywhere near cause I would most likely wind up breaking. One of the best songs ever, it should come as no surprise that it was released in '88, the most awesome year ever. The year Trent Reznor got signed with the backstabbing, money grubbing whores of TVT. The year of The Land of Rape and Honey, Joy Division's Substance, Barbed Wire Kisses, The Serpent's Egg and Bug. Also, the year the world was introduced to the wonderful, charming human being that is yours truly. And this song, thanks to the visual aid of Daydream Nation's cover art, the lit candle standing alone in a dark background, is always encouraging, engaging and poignant.
I started writing this a hell of a long time ago, and now I have to go to school again. I'm not gonna be a total lazy ass and stay home all day! I'm not that big a failure as a human being. I'm content with the feeling of laying out the rules of the game and being ready to fight with all that's in me to keep it together through these dark times. So, it's on, bitch. The war has just begun...
----------------
Listening to: She Wants Revenge - Spend the Night
Eating: Nothing until I burn off the outrageously huge dish of pasta I ate last night.
Drinking: Water
November 7, 2008
The Last Photoshoot of My Teens
Hey there. Now that I'm twenty, life has taken a personal interest in making it hell for me to survive. Seriously, I think that's life's way of making me grow up fast, since I have a lot of growing up to do and I'm running against the clock. This week in particular, I honestly felt like I was going to die anytime. On top of that, I have class this Friday! (today... huh. Damn, I have class today...) And on Saturday too!!! Dude, my life is awesome. Well, at least I got some sleep this morning, woke up, took a long shower and took care of my hair with the gazillion products I bought back when I was rich, and now I'm a new woman. I still wanna hit the sack and never ever wake up, but at least now my hair is wet, so I won't.
Last night, the girls and I had an impromptu sushi night with our new friend, Josh; which went quite nicely. Sadly, Grecia forgot her mighty camera (thank goodness) so there are no pics from that little thing. But it just so happens that yesterday, Grecia sent a bunch of pics she took about a week ago, which turned out to be the last pics of Cat as a nineteen year old. Oh my, what wonderful days! So, since I have nothing better to do at the moment (while my hair dries at least) than post on this thing, I'm going to put them on here, so you can take a walk down memory lane and remember how beautiful it was to be nineteen...
Brazil, here we come!!!
ROFL at Lisette's face!
Seriously dude, stop eating!
Awww, Chewbacca! You took a pic of my hobbit foot!
What's with my long face, huh?
Cause we just needed to have a picture with Grecia's fat ass.
Welcome to the blog thing, Catalina!
Same shoes!
Why does everyone look stupid in that pic?
Chewby!
Cheers!
Haha, Lisette!!!
Why are there so many pictures of me?
No, seriously, why???
I can see your boogers, Grecia!
Someone please photoshop my arm, it looks like a ghost arm!
Oh, I like that one...
Believe it or nor, that's an engaged man. A twenty-one year old engaged man.
Those are our serious faces.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!! And that's his serious face!
Don't hide, Anita!
----------------
Listening to: The Durutti Column - The Sweet Cheat Gone
via FoxyTunes
Last night, the girls and I had an impromptu sushi night with our new friend, Josh; which went quite nicely. Sadly, Grecia forgot her mighty camera (thank goodness) so there are no pics from that little thing. But it just so happens that yesterday, Grecia sent a bunch of pics she took about a week ago, which turned out to be the last pics of Cat as a nineteen year old. Oh my, what wonderful days! So, since I have nothing better to do at the moment (while my hair dries at least) than post on this thing, I'm going to put them on here, so you can take a walk down memory lane and remember how beautiful it was to be nineteen...
Brazil, here we come!!!
ROFL at Lisette's face!
Seriously dude, stop eating!
Awww, Chewbacca! You took a pic of my hobbit foot!
What's with my long face, huh?
Cause we just needed to have a picture with Grecia's fat ass.
Welcome to the blog thing, Catalina!
Same shoes!
Why does everyone look stupid in that pic?
Chewby!
Cheers!
Haha, Lisette!!!
Why are there so many pictures of me?
No, seriously, why???
I can see your boogers, Grecia!
Someone please photoshop my arm, it looks like a ghost arm!
Oh, I like that one...
Believe it or nor, that's an engaged man. A twenty-one year old engaged man.
Those are our serious faces.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!! And that's his serious face!
Don't hide, Anita!
----------------
Listening to: The Durutti Column - The Sweet Cheat Gone
via FoxyTunes
September 20, 2008
Damn you, Grecia!
Our resident paparazzi, Grecia (aka... shit, I don't even know what I call her these days...) is a fucking expert in the art of taking shitty pics. Of me of course, cause other people's pics are gorgeous. Dude, I think it's me, I just can't take a good fucking pic. Damn. This was from yesterday's sushi fest; or better, the sushi fest warm up. At school with the biatches being stupid as always... Yeah, so much fun.
----------------
Listening to: Etro Anime - Let It Go
via FoxyTunes
----------------
Listening to: Etro Anime - Let It Go
via FoxyTunes
September 11, 2008
The ubiquitous Ms. CR
Haha, so I was gone for a week, and I consider myself VERY lucky to have survived a week without computer... it was boring and boring and boring but... meh, I'm here to tell the story. It ain't a nice one.
However, right now I don't feel in a particularly telling mood, so I will leave the blogging and the ranting for later. Ya, the lack of sleep is getting to my brain, so sad. But I will post some crap-ugly pics for people to indulge in. Basically, just another paparazzi-style photoshoot by my dear friend Grecia (Gre-CHA! in Italian haha) showcasing our extreme boredom and shortage of male specimens in the class... We seriously need to get some dudes, man. Too much estrogen.
This is what I was up to while the www was changing at a staggering pace and I had no way of figuring it out.
Starring... the usual suspects, ha. And me, in all my pale, shit-posing, awkward, glory.
TA-DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
However, right now I don't feel in a particularly telling mood, so I will leave the blogging and the ranting for later. Ya, the lack of sleep is getting to my brain, so sad. But I will post some crap-ugly pics for people to indulge in. Basically, just another paparazzi-style photoshoot by my dear friend Grecia (Gre-CHA! in Italian haha) showcasing our extreme boredom and shortage of male specimens in the class... We seriously need to get some dudes, man. Too much estrogen.
This is what I was up to while the www was changing at a staggering pace and I had no way of figuring it out.
Starring... the usual suspects, ha. And me, in all my pale, shit-posing, awkward, glory.
TA-DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
September 3, 2008
PHOTOSHOOT!!!
My dear friend Grecia, aka Rabid Unicorn, felt inspired enough to make an elaborate, artsy-fartsy photo-documentary depicting the horrible last day of the completely useless workshop we were forced to take cause there's no justice in this world. She should have her own exhibition, don't you think? Haha, thanks Grecia!
August 30, 2008
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
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
August 21, 2008
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.
The T&I crew. Photographs, montage, design and overall concept by Cat aka Ms. Testa di Cazzo.
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