Hey, didn't ya have a post up?

Why yes, observant reader of my blog, I did!

As time goes on, I will talk about it more. Right now, things are at a weird place and I really need to make sure before I proceed further. This is not the time for me to go into detail. I do promise a somewhat good explanation down the road.

But I will assure you, dear readers, that my family and I are well. There has been no deaths or anything tragic and serious, just a really strange wrench got thrown into the gears. I promise you all that.

Until then, here, have this:

Though I think you're a good-looking dude, Mr. Gaffigan. :D

*meme does not belong to me*

Best of 2013: Book Edition

Before you go all "where the f*** is The Goldfinch, you insipid bibliophile?"*, yes I didn't finish much of the big releases of last year. I'm sorry, I really am. More to myself, but still to the few readers that wanted to know what I thought about Doctor Sleep (actually, I'm not fond of it, more on another day) and other big -timers. Either way, here is eight books released in 2013 that I did love and want you to check out (if you already haven't).

8. Eminent Hipsters by Donald Fagen
  Short yet sweet and funny like the author; ...Hipsters is less of an extensive memoir and more of a collection of autobiographical essays. They still get the point across about Fagen, a portrait of the artist as a young man (get it?). I really love Fagen being portrayed as that grumpy professor the students all love but the faculty hate. A great afternoon read.

7. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill
  Oh look, Stephen King's son wrote a damn good book. It's about biker chicks, space and time being ripped apart by random objects, and a strange-ass serial killer! And yes, that is my selling point. Go get it and have a blast.

6. Odds Against Tomorrow by Nathaniel Rich
  If there was any new book I was eager to read, it was this one. And thank goodness, it was worth the wait, the time and money used to get the book, and the reading experience. It is a strange one, following a young man with a tendency to predict major disasters. When he foresees a major hurricane-like storm hitting New York City, it becomes a tale of survival atop a dissertation on corporate life and the nature of tortured geniuses in this century.

5. Storm Kings: The Untold Story of America’s First Tornado Chasers by Lee Sandlin
  Warning: this is my inner meteorologist about to geek out here. At first, this book was a little slow, but as you get past the first two chapters, it picks up with the speed of an unexpected windstorm. This book is not only a hidden history uncovered, but a humbling reminder how meteorology as we know it is still a young science. It is a marvel it has gotten this far, who knows what the future holds?**

4. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
  Oh my God, a YA book that isn't an insufferable mess! The story follows a young woman living in the red light district (Storyville) of New Orleans and her attempts to escape her abusive mother and a housekeeping job at a brothel while applying for a prestigious college; all the while solving a strange murder mystery atop that.

3. Turn Around Bright Eyes by Rob Sheffield
  Yep, also talked about this one here before. But, my opinion didn't change. It is a funny and wonderful look into the world of karaoke and the people who love to sing despite the lack of training. It is also an intimate look on how Mr. Sheffield found new love in a woman who would love karaoke as much as he did. Loved it, just as great as his previous books.

2. Angelopolis by Danielle Trussoni
  Man, I hate getting into series in progress. I already talked about this book to a lesser extent, but I will reiterate one thing: DAT ENDING. My God. Where is the last book, Ms. Trussoni?!

1. Adulting by Kelly Williams Brown
  Thank all that is heavenly possible for Ms. Williams Brown. Thanks to her, I have regained faith in my generation and especially women my age. This book is just plain wonderful and I wish it was around when I was younger, but what ya gonna do? It is full of wonderful advice, so good that I just reread it this month! Go buy it and read it, then go enjoy her blog.

~

This post was brought to you by a photo of me on the Eiffel Tower, circa 2010, taken by my sister:

I still have that jacket, believe it or not.

~

Side note: After reading Night Film, as I briefly talked about here, I have to say one thing to Ms. Pessl: you just had to kill the supernatural angle that late in the game, didn't ya?

*If I had finished The Goldfinch in time for this list, Ms. Tartt and Ms. Williams Brown would be sharing the literary crown, as Ms. Teng and Ms. Calvi are already doing for music.

**God, I still want to be a storm chaser and this book didn't help at all.

Best of 2013: Album Edition

Okay, here we are. Everyone has already released their best-of-the-year lists. And like everyone else, I have lists of my own. Yet, it is late and not as varied in some multimedia departments. I only saw two movies of worth: The World's End and Pacific Rim, so no movie list this time. But I do have enough for books and music, as always.

So to kick things off, here are my ten favorite albums of the year!

10. AMOK by Atoms for Peace
  I originally wanted to name this as my album of 2013, but future releases would knock it down this low on the list. I see the ordering in lists as arbitrary, so it being here isn't a bad thing at all. So Atoms for Peace, which is several members of Radiohead and a Radiohead producer, made their debut with this fine album. It contains the minor hit "Default" and my personal favorite "Ingenue". Hope to hear from them again. Until then, will there be a new Radiohead album?

9. Nepenthe by Julianna Barwick
  Man, don't you love it when favorite artists make new albums every couple of years? Yeah, I do too. When I heard Barwick was releasing something new in 2013, I was very excited. Of course, she delivered with another excellent, haunting album full of evocative songs. I know people have done this kind of music in the past, but it's nice to see it revived and appreciated in the 21st century. Favorite track: "Pyrrhic".

8. The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You by Neko Case
  After falling in love with Middle Cyclone, I eagerly awaited her latest release. It helped that I follow her on Twitter and she talked about the album a ton prior to its release. Once I popped it into iTunes and gave it a listen, I knew that she was someone I can count on to release quality material, even after long breaks between albums and tours. Though I cite "Wild Creatures" as my favorite song, "Nearly Midnight, Honolulu" is quite powerful and haunting in its simplicity. Like Case, I hope this kid will break free from their mother and know that they are loved by those less cruel.

7. Nature Noir by Crystal Stilts
  God, I wish this band (like everyone else I like) were more popular. Everyone badly wants another Joy Division. For some reason, The National are cited as the American reincarnation of the iconic band. Ehhh... Crystal Stilts can kindly take that title and run the eff away with it. You see, everyone thinks Joy Division is a lot more grandiose than they really are. They're pure rockers. And at least, Crystal Stilts sticks to that part and do it very well. Their latest is no exception. Favorite track: "Future Folklore".*

6. Ice on the Dune by Empire of the Sun
  After hearing the first single "Alive", I got a little worried. While I did like it, it didn't grab me until repeat listens. Nonetheless, I feared the sophomore slump from my favorite Australian dance duo. I took the plunge and bought the album regardless of my fears. I found them to be unfounded. With tracks like "Surround Sound" (I think it's great, shut up) and "Old Flavours", "Alive" was just an outlier in the whole package. I am glad that "DNA", my favorite track, was released as a single. The video, though, left a lot to be desired.

5. and that's your time by THEESatisfaction
  I didn't buy this album until early this month, but I badly wanted to count them in this list. Of course, the risk is 'what if the album isn't that good' when doing something like that. Nope, no sophomore slump for these Seattle ladies! I was a bit surprised to see their new album without a label backing (wonder what happened?), but I wanted to support them regardless. Indie acts need the support of their fans more than ever as they journey into self-releasing. I am proud to support them with my patronage and fangirlism. Favorite track: "Queen Country (4 Women)". Close your eyes and get swept away in the beats and rhymes.

4. Heartthrob by Tegan and Sara
  I'm no spring chicken with these dynamic ladies, I knew of their existence long before this album. Yet, it took this to get me to finally listen to their music. And I have to say I am not only very impressed, but I look forward to digging into their catalog. I understand that their earlier works aren't as electronic and poppy, but hey, they can go electric and still rule acoustic, right? And it also helped that this album was played over and over at my job. Favorite song: "I'm Not Your Hero".

3. UZU by Yamantaka // Sonic Titan
  I forgot who or what introduced me to this band, but whoever it was... thank you. I've been wanting a solid metal group to patronize. This Canadian act mixes heavy metal, prog rock, and noh theater costumes and concepts to create a beautiful blend of artful music that captures the listener and sweeps them away into stories that are gorgeous and horrific. Favorite track: "Hall of Mirrors". Rapping section FTW!

2. We the Common by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
  Again, Bitch Magazine gets the kudos for introducing me to this band via their music reviews. After reading it, I sought out the album as soon as possible. It is such a solid, rocking album with wonderful undertones of country rock and soulful singing done by the band's namesake. Favorite track is "City", though "Holy Roller" will always remind me of walking down the sidewalks of San Francisco.

1. Tie: Aims by Vienna Teng and One Breath by Anna Calvi
  As before, women are crowned the music rulers of 2013.
  Teng makes her glorious return after taking a few years off to attend grad school and finish with a Masters degree. That, along with the recent sociopolitical environment (which was more prevalent since she moved to Detroit), inspired her to make a passionate plea for various causes: the 99% movement ("In the 99"), wasteful delivery systems ("Landsailor"), and trying to live in a city falling in despair ("Close to Home"). Favorite song: "Level Up". And sadly no, I didn't contribute to her Kickstarter video. I would've, but money was very bad at the time.
  As for Calvi, her return is marked with passion, but for different reasons. Mourning the loss of a beloved family member, she takes these emotions and channels them into an album that is not only beautiful but so heartbreaking. It's been a while since I heard an album this intimate. The moment I hit 'play', I knew this wasn't like her first album. And that is a very good thing. Favorite song: "Piece By Piece".

~

So there ya go. 2013 was a solid year for music**. Hope 2014 continues that streak (which seems like it so far). Thanks to all the musicians who put something out this year and to the newcomers that took the big leap.

This post was brought to you by my theme song of 2014***:



*Wow, not much of a review and more of a ranty-fest on The National. I don't really dislike the band at all, I think "Anyone's Ghost" and "Conversation 16" are amazing songs. I'm just tired of the myth that Joy Division were proto-emo. They weren't, y'all.

**Though funny enough, some music critics have called 2013 one of the worst years in recent memory. Well, that's what happens when you listen to crappy music stations. You have to look for the good stuff. I hope to prove that it isn't the equivalent of pulling hen's teeth.

***When I said this on Twitter, Vienna Teng favorited it. Needless to say, it made my day.

*meme does not belong to me*

The Adventures of the Excel Novice! *whoosh*

One of my biggest goals this year is to learn how to make the best use of Excel. My father uses the program for a butt-ton of things, even creating me a spreadsheet to keep track of average hours I worked at my job in my early years of working there (I still have it as nostalgia). He also uses it to track maintenance on all the cars (including mileage, when oil was last changed, etc.). Naturally, being a lot like my father in terms of organization, I want to follow in that route.

One thing I want to learn to do is create a well-kept inventory. I have enough books and music to warrant such a thing, so it would be easy to have it all sorted by artist/author, genre, year, and so forth. That would be awesome. Also, have it sorted by "read" and "unread". I don't want too much to start off with, don't wanna get overwhelmed.

So here I go now, learning more things and getting skilled...

*whoosh*

Wondering where my Best of 2013 lists are?

Well, wonder no more! I am currently working on them. I will release them before the end of the month.

Why?

Because I can, dammit.

*meme does not belong to me*

Another holy grail attained!

Ah yes, I previously wrote how I received the biggest of my grails about two years ago during Record Store Day (so appropriate it hurts) and that I had a few more of these big catches lined up. I managed to find another later that year in Buckingham Nicks, which I did not write about. I probably should have, but that's beside the point.

And now, I managed to find a surprise one in late November!

A year or so ago, I read a Talking Heads book (God help me if I can remember which one) and saw a passage about a side project that Jerry Harrison did sometime in the early eighties. He teamed up with Busta Jones and some more folks, including Dolette McDonald, and made an EP under the moniker "Escalators" (dumbass me thought it was "Elevators", so probably why I wasn't successful in finding anything until now). I hunted in vain for any evidence of the record's existence. The book I read (har har) made it sound like the EP was never released or if it was, it was super limited. I figured I would never find it and left that possibility in the dust.

Cut to about late last month. I'm faffing about on the Internet and am going through Discogs, a much excellent website. I was doing some research on Harrison's solo career, primarily on the singles he released in 1988. I talked about finding two variations of "Rev It Up" in San Francisco, which led me to learn more about variations of the "Man With a Gun" release. Blah, blah; I was doing that and under the heading of other bands he was in, I saw "Escalators". Clicked it and... boom. The EP not only existed, but it could be purchased (only on vinyl, though)! I immediately went to eBay and found one for a reasonable price. From the prices, its scarcity wasn't as serious as I thought.

And here we are now, me as the proud owner of the Escalators EP!

Worst selfie ever.

And after all that, what is the verdict? It sounds like a lost Tom Tom Club album, which is hilarious since none of the Escalators had anything to do with that album. It also sounds like the band was having a lot of fun making it, which is always great to notice in a recording. Oh and favorite track? "Here Comes That Girl Again". Hell yes. Saxophone and synth for the f***ing win.

Overall, it was totally worth it.

Har-har-har.

P.S.: This is a slightly older post, written around the time I got the LP.

*meme does not belong to me*

New year off to an educational start

Besides ringing in the new year, I also welcomed my parents back to the family homestead (my mom was volunteering as a park host for over eight months). I thought I was gonna adjust to having them back easily, but I was surprised to find myself doing a lot of changing on my end to factor in their return. One of those things was how we handle personal things.

For my mom and I, we struggle with weight. We both need to lose about the same amount (~20 pounds) and need to do it for pain management (knees and hips for my mom, sciatica and heel issues for me). I found myself struggling to understand why my mom kept badmouthing herself about her weight gain (she lost it only to regain it) and it hurt to see her do it to herself. Even though she does have healthy self-esteem and isn't delusional (she knows she will never have her former teenage weight again, etc.), it still had a weird effect on me. It wasn't a case of "I'm tired of hearing it", despite what y'all might think. After talking about it, along with dealing with some pain issues I had earlier today, we agreed that we need to ease off the negative talk. Weight and food issues are touchy subjects, even between a mother and daughter who are close.

We're gonna goof and likely talk about all this again, but I have hope for my mom and I. We watch what we eat (portion control and cooking simple quality meals), exercise, and drink lots of water. And now since we know our sensitivities to these topics, we can have mature conversations, encourage each other, and lose the weight.

I agree, random manatee!

As for other things to learn about, my mom bought this thing a while back. She calls it the "ant machine" due to the sensation. She swears by it, saying it helped her with her pain issues, as with my dad's. She helped me with using it earlier today. I never tried anything like this, and man, it really makes a difference. I'll invest in one when I move out.

~

So there ya go. Two days into 2014 and I learned stuff. Good, quality, important life stuff.

~~

*memes do not belong to me*