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experiment.

2006 Recap.

Resolution: Post to my blog.

Sure noone knows about this one at all, and I'm planning n keeping it that way until I can post to it regularly, but I feel like I should try to get it going.


Recap: 2006 sucked balls.

I don't feel like going into details about the whole thing, but needless to say that 2006 did little to move my life into a better place. I've failed in everything I've put any effort into, if I've even put in effort at all. Let's run down the list:

1. Marriage. Yup, still in shambles. Still working on it, but let's just say that 2006 didn't improve its chances. I've fucked up pretty big time here, and created many issues that are going to be a struggle to overcome and deal with. I really don't know what to do in this respect, but keep trying.

2. School. Still no thesis. Not even close really. I thought I had a handle on it in the summer, but things got turned on their head and I began questioning whether my topic was even worth arguing for. Fuck. I watched most of my schoolmates defend and graduate, which depsite being happy for them, has not done well for my self-esteem.

3. Money. Yay for more debt. I thought that going back to work at A&B would make me some good coin, but I hadn't seen how far A&B has fallen over the years. Fun fact: This week's Georgia Straight was the first in like 20 years not to have an A&B Sound ad on the back cover. Sign o the times. I hated everything about going back to work. I made little money, hated the job, and the hours took time away from both helping my marriage, and getting my thesis done.

4. Lost a bunch this year. Not sure if they are retrievable. I failed my best friend, in ways I regret terrible. I wish all my friends were compatible, or at least that I didn't make them incompatible. My actions rendered ceretain friendships impossible in order to maintain others.

Needless to say my resolutions need not be stated here, but follow obviously from where I've put my life with respect to these past few points. I hope everyone well in 2007, and hope that I don't let them down like i did my friends this year. To the friends I've lost contact with, I;m very sorry at what's happened, and if it could be any other way Iwould have it be so. Sadly, circumstances force otherwise.

Peace.

Not Alphabetical or anything but...

Quick Review of the latest Lady Sovereign album:

I've been anticipating this young chav's album for a minute, so now that it's finally dropped, my feelings are mixed. What the fuck is up with all the previously released tracks??? I count maybe 5 album exclusive album tracks. I like most of the older tracks, but I've had most of them from eps and singles for months now. I guess you gotta capitalize on what little she's already put out to a a new american audience, but still, it seems a little lazy. Mind you, she probably would self-describe as lazy anyways.

The new tracks are a mixed bag. The first single "Love me or Hate Me" is probably the best of the bunch, and the remix with Missy E is pretty banging. The single "Those were the Days" is a nice change of pace, and old school reminisence jam, that's ok, but too short with little to say. "My England" doesn't do it for me. Really exemplifies why she's sometimes written off as a gimmick-rapper. The beat is cartoony and what kind of commentary about English life she's trying to pull off is, shall we say, adolescent at the best of times. Haven't decided whether I like "Tango" or not. The rap-rock beat is kind of fun, but again, plays up the cartoony aspect of Lady Sov's image. I was hoping for just a little more.

All in all, probably a good party record, but as I have most of the tracks already I wouldn't go out of my way to pick the record up. My hard-earned dollars have better things to be wasted on I think.

Haha....Once more into the fold.

Gonna try out something new with this. Scott and Corinne have both inspired me to start up again. Scott what with his regular (and awesome) resurgence into the .....wait for it....blogosphere. And Corinne with her idea to post record reviews alphabetically. So I will start with A, and go progressively from there. Whoa nelly, ideas of ideas. I'm thinking other posts in between too, but we'll see how it goes. Look for a review of the new Acoustic Hella album coming later today. Post food eating-like.

Goddamn Blogger Trying To Ruin My Plans

Blogger was offline, at least for me, for the past 6 hours or so, so the post I had planned on making was delayed. Arg.


Karaoke:

Having a hard time trying to choose a karaoke song to do this week. I think Hot in Herre by Nelly is gonna win out, but as for a second song...I really can't decide. Maybe Stand Up by Ludacris or 99 Problems by Jay-Z. Could also go back to Jesus Walks...it's been a month or so, maybe more.


Current Listening:

I've been using pandora a lot lately, mostly because there are sneaky ways of downloading the songs you are listening to. It's pretty good for discovering new music in genres I'm not familiar with. Tomorrow I will post what I hope will be a regular feature: Karaoke roundup as well as pick an album I've been listening to alot lately. Friday will involve mp3 downloads, and I have a largish post in mind about Harsh Noise (since Nick's playinga a noise show at the Pic that night it seemed appropriate).

Starting Anew

My old blog has a lot of baggage, and has kind of died off. I would like to start fresh with something new. I need an outlet to kickstart my writing in the mornings before I get to work on my thesis (also perhaps a way to keep me from constantly just passively enjoying the internet and take an active part in making it a little better, ha.)

My goal here has many facets. One is to further figure out and report my views on music in general, both in terms of reviewing material I'm confronted with in my travels, and in a more philosophical context, addressing questions of musical norms, ontology (yikes!), and some of the social factors that a music fan confronts on the regular. I want to figure out why I listen to the music I do, why others do or don't, and to have an excuse to listen to the vast amount of music I've uhm...obtained in the last little while. I'm considering some regular weekly features, as well as some regular downloads and such to keep people interested.

I will probably digress sometimes with other facets of pop-culture, and given my hockey-fandom, some thoughts on the current state of affairs in the NHL world. I will try to avoid delving into personal stuff, despite what I know is an immense curiousity that people have about my life (haha!) because...well that's what live journals are for.

I'll work on the template a bit in the near future, and post up the first real post tomorrow.