This is my blog.

Every time I pile too much on my plate, my friends must endure a week or two of me saying, "Once this is done, I won't commit to anything else, I'm becoming a hermit." They're used to it by now and if it garners a reaction, it'll be a well timed *eye roll* at most. I don't know if it's healthy, but I do know that I can't change it, no matter how many times I buy you a coffee and make you sit through a pretentious lecture about how only stupid people have a shot at being happy and how I also want to be blissfully unaware (apologies...you know I'll do it again...to all of you). Here are the top reasons I can't seem to say no when an idea for something new comes to me:

5. I get inspired. I read stuff. I hear things. Then I realize that the things that inspire me aren't happening where I am. So I want to change it. I blame Google for making it so easy for me to see what cool things are happening in the rest of the world.

4. I meet a lot people. You know how sometimes, you go to a conference and meet someone who reminds you why you do 27 things at a time and love them all? Yeah, me too.

3. I cannot stop doing. "Less talk, more action" has never been a problem for me. Although I talk a lot (hey, I get paid to talk), if something needs to happen, I am 100% cool with rolling up my sleeves and getting down to business...and I see a lot of things that need to happen. Accountability is probably my most employable skill (which is good, because the employable ones are few and far between).

2. I spent a year in constant existential crisis mode. I am still not quite sure I know who I am, or what my purpose in life is. As such, I keep trying. I know there are several things that I like (who's kidding who, there's a top 5 of things that I like) and I keep trying them on. Keeping multiple pots going on the stove is a way for me to keep working on who I am - the only alternative is to sit around, paralyzed by fear.

1. My parents never told me I couldn't. Ah, that GD paradox of choice. My parents told me I could do anything I wanted when I grew up, and I believed them. However, I'm such a Spoiled Little Brat (SLB, as my bro calls me), I can't pick just one thing and want to do it all. Color me Veruca and buy me a pony. 

Loading mentions Retweet

Dear Team,

Whenever I encounter something strange while travelling, I inevitably hear the calming voice of my best friend saying, “not weird, just different.” She know what she is talking about, having lived all over the globe and takes in differences in culture with a grace and style that I can only dream of.

That being said, no matter how different things are, there are a certain number of things you can count on when abroad. For example, I’ve never been lost in an airport, I love the familiar fizz of Coca-Cola on my tongue and of course, the smile and laugh when someone realizes you are trying ever-so-hard to communicate, but cannot speak the language.

It makes me wonder, why are some of us obsessed with travel? This mix of seeking different while seeking same? Why is it when more than a month or two goes by, my feet itch and I long to once again wheel out my little carry-on and the awkward, hard shampoo I only use if a trip through security is required? Is it dissatisfaction or unhappiness? I hope its something with less discord. A sense of wonder and curiosity? Last year’s existential crisis aside (let’s not bring that up), I like to think that I’m quite happy…

My mother once said, “you’ve been here before, but you must look out the window, I promise you these mountains never look the same way twice.” It sounded rubbish at the time, but I believed it and still do. There is nothing more beautiful than climbing up to see the sunlight hit the icy blue water of a mountain lake. Or turning one more corner in a museum to unearth a hidden painting that one can briefly pretend is secret treasure.

My parents carted our family all over as a child, never wasting a Saturday, always driving to Cathedrals, castles and museums. “I’ve seen enough.” my brother says, now happy to be at home. He says his travelling days are done and prefers the company of his friends in the comfort of his own home to dingy hotels and back-aching plane rides.

I envy him, but remain a wanderer at heart. There’s nothing I love more than being in yet another city, drinking a coffee and watching the world go by.

Loading mentions Retweet

Does that make you love me, baby?

Does that make you want me, baby?

Oh baby! This song gets stuck in my head ALL OF THE TIME. A show with The Heavy and The Black Key would be an epic time, in my opinion. 

Loading mentions Retweet

5. December is not the time to get anything done. 

4. A failure to plan is a plan to fail. Sweet Georgia Brown, I guess those sayings get repeated for a reason. I had sourced the first part of MONM ahead of time, so it was easy to listen to an album when I already had it ready to go. As soon as it was a two part process, I had a total breakdown.

3. I like music that is almost exactly the same as other-music-I-like. This is upsetting to me. I had a vision of me being old and doing one of those old people rants to my children, "Turn that racket off! You know what's good? Here, let me play some Kylie for you." I need to be more open to new. I mean, my musical tastes rock (obviously), but I want to evolve.

2. I am more interested in music my friends have noted as *good* than music music-experts have noted as *good.* While there's usually some overlap, I"m far more likely to check something out based on what the dude that sits on the other side of the office from me (HI COLIN) recommends than any industry insiders tell me to like.

1. The threat of having to be consistent paralyzes me. I probably listen to at least 10 new albums a week - far more than the requisite 1 per day for Month of New Music. ...but as soon as it becomes a rule, I cannot do it. This probably says something about my blatent disregard for authority. Every so often, I experience a wave of sympathy for my parents and a wave of joy that I will never have to be in the army.

Loading mentions Retweet

On Monday, I listened to Neon Indian - Psychic Chasm for #monm

While looking for their website, I came across this tweet, which pretty much made my life and therefore, I give Neon Indian the ol' two thumbs up.

Loading mentions Retweet

I listened to Animal Collective yesterday for the Month of New Music (album came out almost a year ago, but I'd never listened to it start to finish).

As you would expect, it is pretty solid. We were chatting the other day about bands who don't seem to make very big waves at the time, but then are heavy influencers on songwriting years after their time. Consensus seemed to be that Animal Collective is definitely one of those bands. 

Loading mentions Retweet

Have you heard Memory Tapes? I listened to their album yesterday. Apparently, a collaboration between Memory Cassette and Weird Tapes.

I love all of the dance loops, background funk and layered tracks.

Enjoy!

Loading mentions Retweet

Hey, it's officially #MONM (month of new music) so the least I can do is update my blog...

To kick things off yesterday, I listened to White Demin 

White Denim - "I Start To Run" from Downtown Music on Vimeo.

The band is good fun and I'd listen to it again, but I wouldn't put it on any Top 5 lists. They sound like a lot of other bands out there right now...

Loading mentions Retweet

You must stick up for yourself son
Never mind what anybody else done

The new single from Yeasayer. I like it way more than I thought I would and am now looking forward to the rest of the album. Sweet!

word.

Loading mentions Retweet

My beautiful green eyed love 
I'm always dreamin of 
My beautiful green eyed love

Yep, in the video, he is clearly not talking about me...but I really, really prefer to listen to it and think that it's about me. K? K. also, check out the Classixx Remix of this track on Hype Machine (friend me, I'm Superblue). Delightful!

*props to klang for sending this my way

Loading mentions Retweet