Sunday, February 28, 2010
SotD 28.2.2010 - Rang Dang Digidy Dang Da Dang
Grandmaster Flash teamed up with Furious Five member Melle Mel for todays SotD, "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)." It's an anti-drug song. Figure the rest out on your own.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
SotD 26.2.2010 - I can't think of anything to say. . except I think it's marvellous
Today's SotD is "Brain Damage/Eclipse" by Pink Floyd. The last track(s) on their album Dark Side of the Moon (the greatest album EVER), convey a lot of emotion and powerful imagery. Brain Damage is more about dealing with insanity, while Eclipse, at least to me, is about coming to terms with the end of existence/sanity, but its peaceful, full of acceptance. GAWD I'm such a dork.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Dynastic Galactic
I was on ESPN.com this morning, and they had an article on how if 3 NBA stars in free agency (i.e. LeBron, D-Wade, Bosh) take pay cuts to play on the same team, that team will instantly be unstoppable. Now, I know for a fact bringing in the best talent does not necessarily mean championships. Here's why:
Example 1: 2007 New England Patriots - "18-oh no!"
You've got the leagues most clutch quarterback, a decent running game, a solid defense, good line play, so when the New England Patriots brought in star players including Randy Moss, the Patriots were slated to win the Super Bowl. For a while, they were doing a pretty good job of it, too. They weren't just winning games, they were slaughtering teams. Breaking almost every offensive record on the passing side while keeping a solid defense (4th in both points and yards allowed), they were utterly dominating their 'competition.' Until it all boiled down to the championship game, and suddenly the pieces started to fall. Old age caught up with the Pats, who looked sluggish, and suddenly, the little engine that could, with a little help from one of the most retarded plays in history, shocked the world. New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14.
Example 2: La Primera Era de Galacticos de Real Madrid CF (The First Era of 'Galacticos' for Real Madrid Football Club "Perez on a Mission"
Real Madrid, one of the worlds biggest soccer teams, elected a new president, the ambitious Florentino Perez in 2000. Perez, an "avid" Madridista, decided to help his team by shelling out millions of dollars for the worlds best talent in an effort to create an invincible team, coined 'Los Galacticos' (The Galactic Men). Combined with current player Roberto Carlos and Youth system graduates Iker Casillas and Raul, Perez spent almost 150 million Euros on Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo (the original one, now known as "fat Ronaldo"), David Beckham, and Michael Owen. Because of Perez' "Attack Attack Attack" philosophy," Real's defensive talent left the team, since Perez would refuse to give them the wages they deserved. Without a solid backline, Madrid was unable to set up attacks as well or defend as well.
The Galacticos were also somewhat of a guise, almost used as a business. Because of the enormous marketing potential of their team, Madrid was able to bring in massive revenue to bring in more pointless signings.
7 Years -
Once Perez resigned as chairman, surprise! Real started winning titles again.
Example 3: La Segunda Era de Galacticos de Real Madrid CF (The Second Era of 'Galacticos' for Real Madrid Football Club) "He's baaaaaack"
Last summer, Real Madrid elected Florentino Perez as chairman (again. . .). Now, as a Madridista, I dont mind bringing in talent, but 200+ million euros worth of it? And with the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema, Raul Albiol, and smaller signings such as Esteban Granero among others, Real has still failed to make a complete impact on the football world. Though the season is not yet complete, and we are still in contention to win La Liga and are in the Champions League, the King's Cup exit to Alcorcon has scarred the season. We'll see how everything plays out in the end.
Example 4: 2007 Boston Celtics "Chemistry"
This might seem like a counter example, but the Celtics manage to pull it off only because
1) Paul Pierce is still the main attraction (court-wise)
2) Kevin Garnett is a defensive player strategically
3) Ray Allen has diminuitive ego
4) The bench over achieves
The Celtics though, did pull off what they set out to do. Showing it is possible, but basketball is an odd case where star power alone can win games.
Example 5: Any New York Yankees team ever
Highest payroll in baseball for as long as I can remember, and one championship the last 10 years.
Example 6: Any New York Mets team ever
Second highest payroll in baseball for as long as I can remember, and nothing to show for it.
Well that really turned into a rant on Madrid. Oh well, it was overdue. GET YOUR HEADS IN THE GAME. SERIOUSLY. MANUEL PELLEGRINI YOU ARE THE WORST COACH EVER. GO BACK TO CHILE.
ummm yeah.
Song of the day? Mountain Jam - The Allman Brothers Band. They Jam. It got me through this, it'll get you through your day.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
SotD 23.2.2010 - I'm not talkin' bout burnin down a buildin. . .
From the world's greatest album of dance music, I give you 'Disco Inferno' by the Trammps. The Trammps are a disco outfit constantly overlooked by the general population. Steady beats, good bass lines, good counter melodies, gorgeous harmonies and back up vocals. . . I once bought Trammps record for this song since it was only $1.99 at PREx (♥♥♥PREx♥♥♥) and the whole album turned out to be great. But the album I was referring to at the beginning is none other than the soundtrack to the movie Saturday Night Fever. Disco, Latin, and LATIN DISCO.
Monday, February 22, 2010
SotD 22.2.10
I'm sick. Why me? 'Mars - The Bringer of War' from Gustav Holst's 'The Planets Suite.' Jupiter and Venus are good too. lsaufhlasfhfj soiadfj s;ldfkjsad;lkfjsad I feel like crap.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
SotD 21.2.2009
"Papa Was a Rolling Stone" - The Temptations
Quite a sad song, but boy, does it have some soul. Just a boy tryna figure out who is his daddy by asking his mother, asking about all the bad stuff he's heard about 'im. Cool bass line, great trumpet part, and each Tempatations vocal is used to strengthen the song. Very well done. AND I'm proud to say I can sing the whole song. Yes. The whole song. That means each part. High and low. Go me.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Oh, How Great Being 10 Was. . .
Today's SotD is 'The Dragon Theme' by Bruce Faulconer. This is tied for most epic track from the most epic action cartoon that peaked when I was in the 5th Grade: Dragonball Z.
This.
Song.
Is.
HUGE.
I dont care if youve never watched DBZ or despise it in its entirety, this is one of the most epic songs ever.
Fine you want reasons? Huge vocal chords, solid definite beat, mixed up rhythms, and an improved synth track that will blow you away. Each musical statement compliments all the others, yet conflicts enough to make each line more powerful. The first time I heard this I was blown away. You will be too.
And on a side note, being 10 was pretty cool, too. No responsibility, school was a joke. . . Oh well. College wins ;)
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Revealing Science of God
Today's SotD is by my favorite band ever, Yes. Yes, a progressive rock band, doesnt really fit any niches, but has their own sound (sort of). Dreamlike passages, soothing vocals, complicated rhythms and themes, strong bass lines, melodic guitar and keyboards, Yes is a rare band that has every piece to the puzzle. Sadly, they are overlooked by many because they never achieved the large critical acclaim and loyal fanbase as others did during their heyday. A pretentious band in their own right (and deservedly so), they're perfect for someone with as arrogant a taste in music as I have.
The song "The Revealing Science of God" is the first track on the album 'Tales from Topographic Oceans.' 'TfTO' is arguably the most pretentious album ever made: it is composed of 4 songs, 20 minutes each, where the songs are based off of an obscure hindu passage about 4-6 paragraphs long devoted to how you should live your life in every aspect. The album itself wont really blow you away, but for what it is pretty cool. My favorite track on the album, 'TRSoG' has one of my favorite solos about 16 minutes in. Even if you dont listen to stuff like this, humor me and do it anyway.
NOTE: The song isnt divided in two, it just was for youtube's sake.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
New Feature! Song of the day
So I already wrote about the greatest song ever (http://ejstern88.blogspot.com/2009/12/perfect-song.html), so I can't really use that hmmm? Anyway, I recently discovered an Australian hiphop group called Hilltop Hoods. Good beats, good delivery, clever lines, fun ostinatos, chill, yet pumps you up. Really cool. So yeah, check 'em out.
One song I've heard by them that really stands head and shoulders above their others is "The Nosebleed Section," which seems to encompass everything they ever wanted to achieve in a song. So, here's the link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8jVw0VFK1Q
And if you search youtube for 'best flatland bmx rider' the first result will be a sick nasty bike rider doing retarded tricks to this song.
From a guy who only listens to good music and probably thinks you have bad taste in music,
Happy listening! Maybe you'll learn something ;)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Owww my embouchure :(
One of the things I'm so glad high school is over is the fact that there's no more band. God I hated it so much. So much in fact, it demotivated me from practicing and wanting to be a better musician. When I got to college, I was really sheepish about distracting people so I wouldn't play, and the desire to play that was never garnered to begin with stayed that way. Playing the trumpet, and in turn, making music fell out of my life.
As college as gone on, I've seen people open a lot more, and Davidson A also explode into guitar frenzy, in no small part due to my neighbor, Samuel Talbot. He's got more talent than he'll admit or knows what to do with. Seeing everyone so amazed by all of his tapping got my music blood flowing again, and I realized it's time. . .
So that's it. I'm coming out of retirement. I don't expect it to be easy. Committing time I shouldn't have to purely personal gains with no legitimate return. . . well, that's the hard part. And the fact that I completely suck. I was never that good before, but now I realize how hard all that stuff is to execute. Almost a full 6 months away from the trumpet doesnt quite throw me back to square one, but it IS quite a setback. My embouchure is weak, my airflow is poor, my fingerings are sloppy (thank you muscle memory), and my overall technique is lackadaisical. My futile attempts to do what I could before are all for naught.
It's gonna be arduous, but hopefully the reward is worth it. . .
So that's right: I'm BACK.
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