Bachelor of ?

Exam 1 of my last undergraduate course (of 4) was a success, and this has jump started a more focused work ethic since I am now aware of the procedures of this particular class (as this is my first online course). I have to admit, using a java based program to point and click at pipettes and going through the virtual motions and tasks of a lab is quite odd, though surprisingly helpful. For those wondering, this is the University of New England's online Medical Physiology course. I've been doing some thinking about what to do when I finish this course, I see a few options.

A: Just get my damn degree and get the BA.

B: Find one more class (either online or somewhere local) to get the BS and NOT get my degree until that is over.

C: Can't I just be done?

In talking to various advisors, relatives and friends, the BA doesn't look like it will hold me back very much, save from one area where it might give me some difficulty, a career in the actual sciences and graduate school (for topics other than teaching). This assessment should make it clear that a BA will be fine and better for me as it will allow me to be finished and move on to the next step and just find a job. After all, I want to teach, and supposedly the BA should not hurt me, though I don't know what kind of message it shows getting a Bachelor of ARTS in Biology? Nothing against art (in fact I probably would have preferred studying art or music, but that is besides the point), but its hard not to feel like people might get a bit judgy on the title. Also, in the interest of just exploring my options, I've been looking at grad school requirements for topics along the lines of geology and volcanology. These are wanting a BS in a relevant science. I have the grades in the core physics, chem, and math classes, but would a BA really kill the possibility? Maybe this writing practice I'm getting could be leading to me penning the 'Catcher in the Rye' of application essays (though that wouldn't necessarily help me towards my goal, skillwise).

Enough parenthesis and such, there's more physiology to focus on for now. Then maybe more BS later.

New Music Tuesday: Ben Folds & Nick Hornby's 'Lonely Avenue'

I'm just some guy on the net, but I don't think Ben Folds sucks, even though I have my own blog. 'A Working Day' starts out this project combining the whimsical and honest musicality of Ben Folds with Nick Hornby's... whimsical and honest writing? The song immediately starts the album off strong with the wit that those familiar with either are familiar with.

These two complement each other greatly due to both of their innate 'vibes'. Just hearing about the album's concept of Hornby writing everything while Folds 'adds music and melody' to these words. Its hard for me to tell sometimes if its just Folds' ability to take any song and deliver it in a way to make it sound like his own (ie. 'Bitches ain't Shit' from 'Songs for Silverman', and 'Video Killed the Radio Star' off of 'Whatever and Ever Amen'), or if in fact the both of them have a very compatible writing style. I'm going to go ahead and assume its some combination of the such, which saves me from making any decisions.

Anyways, this album sounds and reads like a Ben Folds album. Aside from lyrics relating to London and such, its not a confusing listening process trying to discern the difference of the Hornby's words and Folds' composition. The music itself is full of plenty of Folds' piano mastery, and some of the fuzzier distortion more present on 'Way to Normal'. These have a much more full presentation to them though. Perhaps with Folds' focusing on just the music, it helps him to really create full musical landscapes, with each song feeling fully realized. 'Picture Window' reminds me of how he should leave the string arrangements not just for extra tracks like he did with the strings version of 'Landed'.

Playing well to both Hornby and Folds' humorous, yet oddly emotionally honest abilities, 'Levi Johnston Blues' has some fun with the Levi/Bristol Palin drama. Since, Hornby is a novelist by trade, and Folds' a composer, these songs are the most story feeling/sounding songs of Folds' career. They just feel very whole for the most part and border on having an almost rock opera feeling. I find myself imagining ways to connect the songs together somehow in an odd meandering plotline.

Both Hornby romanticisms shine through the various textures that Folds' assigns fairly appropriately to the songs subject matters.

Favorites of the album are the opener, 'A Working Day', 'Levi Johnston Blues', and 'Saskia Hamilton' with its driving beat that just makes you imagine Folds' being only able to play the song while standing and pounding the ivory.

As someone who is already a fan of Ben Folds and Nick Hornby, its hard not to be a little jaded, but if you are someone that can imagine what this partnership would sound like, you will not be disappointed.

Ben Folds & Nick Hornby - 'Lonely Avenue' -> 3.8/5

New Music Tuesday: Frankie Rose and the Outs' Self-Titled Debut

Frankie Rose's latest band actually gets her out from behind the drums and in front of the mic, which turns out pretty well for listeners. I first heard of them a few months ago after a friend shared some demo's with me, so when I saw that their album was coming out today, I was pretty excited to see exactly what was in store.

The album starts appropriately with 'Hollow Life's sweet organs setting the tone for the upcoming wall of sound that follows in the rest of the album. Being a fan of albums that are composed and assembled as something that is supposed to exist as pieces that all work together, I love that this is not a collection of singles. To me it feels much more like an album experience, that needs the whole picture in order to feel whole. I know I won't be coming to these songs just looking to listen to one song and move on to another artist. Not that the sound and style is anything similar, but its status as a whole album to listen to reminds me of when I listen to 'Lola vs. the Moneygoround' by The Kinks. The songs are varied enough, but carry enough similarity in tone that it all comes together as a tryptych would form an overall piece.

Now to get the pieces. While a fan of some of the more subdued songs on the album, I can't help but be excited by some of the more poppy and energetic tunes. 'Candy' pops out immediately as the second track and sucks you into its mid 60's mood that you can immediately imagine the girls of the band with their beehive updo's. Its danceable, but in that slow shimmy and shake style that just makes you think about the dancing extras on the Ed Sullivan show.

'Memo' is probably my favorite of the bunch just with the warm tremolo tone of the opening guitar bit. Its not complicated, but it portrays a depth of understanding for the feeling of a well timed and accented riff. It almost reminds me of the beginning of Nancy Sinatra's 'Bang Bang' until the song picks up with a more modern distortion and pace, only to return to it. Great song and amazing tone. (It just makes me want to go replicate it with my own setup)

'Don't Tred' is a great example of why they could be likened a bit to The Cramps. Just listen. The song has a fun build up and I imagine would be one of their best songs live. Just the thrumming of the guitar and bass on a repetitive but ominous "dunnah dunnah". Also those drawn out chords and distortion make me think Frankie must be at least a little bit of a fan of Link Wray. Its the kind of track that makes it sound like a good candidate for being in the next Quentin Tarantino or Guy Ritchie film.

Frankie Rose & the Outs - 'Frankie Rose & the Outs' -> 4.1/5

Have a listen to 'Don't Tred'

New Music Tuesday: Chromeo's 'Business Casual'

I'm hoping that this is the first in a long line of Tuesday new music reviews for me. While I don't want for this blog to be strictly music oriented, I think my extensive past obsessing on the subject and want for discussing the specifics of new albums.

Chromeo's 'Business Casual' is actually pretty exciting to have first as it is an album that I've been excited for a few months, since hearing that a follow up to 2007's 'Fancy Footwork'(a funky and energetic sophomore release) was planned for today's release.

Where 'Fancy Footwork' improved and focused the duo, 'Business Casual' seems to have brought them into maturity. Its all distinctly Chromeo, but the beats, synthesizers, and grooves have grown up in their application. These are succinct and artfully crafted funky pop songs that do everything to remind me of what Motown was pumping out in the 80's. This is a good thing.

I'm not going to lie, but the first track's title 'Hot Mess', and its opening few seconds made me afraid that they were going to give in to the more current pop pitfalls lyric-wise (ala ke$ha). I can't stand that term personally, but luckily the song quickly shuts me up as I realize I will not be hearing about the petty exploits of an alcoholic glittery mess of a person. Instead, Dave One's neo-retro romanticism's are still prevalent with the wit still intact. Not to neglect that Pee Thug's well punctuated talk box makes the experience whole. This is dance synth funk at its best (not that I can think of many peers to them). These guys are great what they do.

There are definitely some songs that shine brighter than the others. Specifically, 'Hot Mess', 'Night by Night', 'Don't Turn the Lights On', ‘J’ai Claque La Porte’ and 'Grow Up'.

'Night by Night's crisp intro riff pulls you into a song that really just reminds me if 'Eye of the Tiger' had an illegitimate love child with the vibe of Flashdance.

'Don't Turn the Lights On' has that walking beat that can only keep reminding me of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'. This song just makes me feel like these two must have some serious admiration for Quincy Jones. Also, the video is by far one of my favorites of the last year. Its fun, doesn’t take itself too seriously and has a pretty fun gimmick. Take a look:

'J'ai Claque La Porte' is a pleasant romantic change of pace with string accompaniment and, of course, some smoothly delivered vocals. While I do not speak French, I'm assuming Dave One is keeping up his usual wry charm and wit in these lyrics.

Finally, the last song 'Grow Up' sounds like it could be a cover of a MJ and Stevie Wonder collaboration from the mid 80's that somehow didn't make it out of the studio until now. Overall, very light hearted, sweet in tone and a great tone to end the album with.

The only reason this doesn't get my full marks is that the album is a bit front heavy, with the later tracks kind of blending together as not exceedingly memorable. If it had been as consistent for all 10 songs as it was with the first 5, it would have received my full marks. Don't let that deter you though. This is still a great album and most songs on it would deserve a place in a dance music or romantic situation playlist.

Chromeo - 'Business Casual' ->

Having fun isn't hard...

... when you've got a library card.

I'll explain that in a bit.

I finally got to get to the Multnomah Library on 10th to get my card. This is an activity that has happened once before in my lifetime, and I remember it quite clearly. It was probably a Sunday and I was around 6 or 7. The place was the Walnut Creek library and I can clearly remember awkwardly being pushed forward by my Dad to ask the Grandmotherly looking librarian about ascertaining a membership card (and knowing my father and his propensity for saying words that are far too complex to me as a kid, he probably did say ascertain). I remember its flimsy orange quality, and hands-down the worst signature of mine on its back. This was before learning cursive and right about the time that my printing was still fairly awful if it was not at least an inch tall and especially if there were no top, middle, or bottom guidelines. So it became what I thought at the time all those grown up signatures I thought were. Complete scribble. Well, two pieces of shaky 6 year old scribble running of the tiny white section of the card. I used that same card for ten years. I think its still in my desk at my parents with other various old membership cards, but wow, I don't think any of them held the weight and importance that this little orange piece of plastic did. At the time, it was a complete "now you're in the big kid club" moment. You've got people of all ages in this yellowed old library and all these books on shelves way too high with all these weird white tags on the spines with numbers on them. At the time I figured it was something that would always be beyond my understanding, but at this point, I'd like to think I've mastered the Dewey Decimal system. (I immediately thought of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZHoHaAYHq8 when I wrote that).

Anyways, all library nostalgia aside, I've been wanting to get back into reading for a long time and getting this card now is definitely seeming like a good step. I can't believe it was college that killed my will to read for fun, but I'm beyond letting that be an excuse anymore, and having a nice big city library within walking distance from the apartment is quite nice. I'm also a fan of the architecture and vibe of the place, while I haven't been to too many, I didn't really appreciate the UCSC libraries, the Walnut Creek one hadn't been fixed up yet, and I've really only been to the San Francisco city library after its resurrection (not a fan). This library has the nice classical architecture, mixed with the bricks and just has the right atmosphere for wanting to find a stack of books to bring home.

Cozy and scholarly looking huh?

Well back to the quote at the beginning. "Having fun isn't hard if you've got your library card".

When thinking about what to write about today, I was thinking about the card and I just kept hearing a song in my head, only to realize when I looked it up on youtube, I realized why it felt like an obscure song.

Arthur. Arthur and his sister DW and that pesky rabbit friend, Buster. I know I was a little old for watching for when this was popular, but when you grow up without cable, and are bored as hell at the age of 12 whose only form of entertainment was PBS, you become familiar with this aardvark. Anyways. I'm not too embarrassed about it now, but at the time if you'd ask if I had even heard of it, you would gotten an "Arthur? You mean the King?". But I'm actually kind of proud now and completely understand why this kind of stuff gets made. The adults that made it must have had fun thinking about the exciting things about that age and that a library card was indeed an exciting thing to have. I mean with all the other media they have there as well as books, its no wonder kids would probably still actually be that enthralled. Even if they can only focus on something for about 30 seconds.

Travellers in Space and Time and Nostalgia

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This is the album I was talking about, incidentally. The one that said 'Hey. Kyle. Stop sitting and thinking about doing things and just DO something. Do it while smiling and skipping and staring at the clouds'.

Positivity just emanates from this album, which I can attribute to many of the songs (especially 'Dream About the Future') just screams out ELO. Also Mr. Blue Sky is my all time 'happy song', used to make good situations better, and bad situations less dire. So for me, anything channeling that energy is automatically entered in the memory banks as fun and happy tunes.

Along with the good energy, the bright and sunny lyrical musings of Robert Schneider cry out as being a guy that would be perfect to have around when you need a pick me up. Something about imagining him (and then confirming through seeing interviews with him), conjures a picture of how I feel most people would either pretend to want to be like, or pretend to hate out of jealousy. This guy is happy. He is happy and he sees what is good out there and thats all that he focuses on. And I'm glad that he doesn't feel that he needs to brood for music credibility. It is still possible to write a fun, sunny pop song that doesn't have to suck. It may seem like decades since that has been what was actually getting radio play, but people in general could use more of this kind of music.

Song Highlights:

Dream About the Future- Just listen to the chorus. Screams ELO, but not in a bad way. In a, 'I wish this was still on the radio all the time', way.

Hey Elevator- Nice swinging beat, another nice piano and synth pop song. My girlfriend's favorite from the album.

Dance Floor- The first single from the album and for good reason. Fun, good beat and gets instantly stuck in your head. If you haven't seen the video with Elijah Wood, do so. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C66yhRwpt7s

Dignified Dignitary- Fun bass and cowbell heavy song

No Vacation- Another ELO nod. I love me some 'oooo OOOOO ooooo's

Nobody But You- Ok yah, I know I've said it a lot, but try to hear the first 5 seconds and not think that Jeff Lynne got the Orchestra back together and picked up Schneider as their singer to keep it fresh.

And seriously. Don't you want this guy as your best friend?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVmadXT70uY

I don't have a rating system yet, but I'll tentatively go with the 5 star format for now:

The Apples in Stereo- Travellers in Space and Time ->

Any start is something right?

So, I technically started this blog about a month and a half ago when Becca and I had just finishing moving up to Portland from Santa Cruz, but... Yah it has been quite hard to start. Unfortunately I tend to put a lot of pressure on expressing myself and such, but I think I'm ready to dive headfirst. Listening to music that is not only bouncing with a happy vibe, but also has pleasant and nostalgic feelings attached to it can have that inspiring effect on me.

Well the whole point of this was to be sort of a personal journal/music/food/beer/travel blog of sorts and you know what? I think its time to get crackin'.

To sum up the events that led to this point and also address the blog's 'title', I have recently moved to Portland, Oregon after deliberating and finally deciding to do something and get out of California, the womb of my childhood/young adulthood. Portland had always been nice to visit, having my Uncle and his family up here and being a fan of GOOD beer, knowing this is Craft Beer City USA is a definite plus. Admittedly also music was a great draw due to my finding out that Blitzen Trapper was indeed from up here, as well as older favorites Sleater Kinney (though yes, I know they're defunct). I could use a musical climate that might help to catalyze my own musical growth. The combination of these reasons, the city's great food, its nice people and being encouraged by my lovely wanderlusting girlfriend, it just made an exciting sense.

Since moving up here, we've been living downtown with our occasionally savage and always adorable Siamese snowshoe point cat, Samwise. He's one of those 'I'll even look cute while I chew on your hand and try to rip you apart', and I still get too tempted to bug him when he's napping all day.

Becca has been working, and I've sent out a few resume's but have mostly been absorbed in my final class that I'm taking online. Medical Physiology online from the University of New England. Just this and then finally the Biology major will be all finished. I am really excited to work though, even if it ends up being some company I completely disagree with. Thats just one of those young 20 something experiences that I'm fine with having. I know I'll find something eventually that will match up better, like when I start teaching, but I know I do NOT have the maturity for that yet. Just in reading up on it and my experience in Education class let me know, I know how to talk about educating and what SHOULD be done, but knowing and practicing are different. While I'd love to be a young relatable teacher, I'd rather be a little bit older and be able to actually focus well enough to be a solid teacher and not just scoot by with strictly adhering to content standards.

Incidentally, the whole point of this first entry is to be that crazy rambling one that virtually no one will have the patience to sit through. Its cathartic for me, especially considering I haven't really made any friends up here yet. I'm like a hose thats just been let loose from being pinched off; that means tons of thoughts spilling all at once.

Summary? Living in Portland with amazing/psycho cat, amazing/sexy/sweet girlfriend, and trying to live up to all of those "what I'd do with my time when school was done" life goals; including recording, making more art, and writing. Well at least I'm working on the last one.