Joseph Biden is the Best Whacko Ever

I'm going to get political for a moment because it's all just too good. I read this article in the Daily News...

The Democratic Debates at Howard University (The race for the African-American vote) was filled with exciting statements; however, when AIDS became the topic of conversation, and Hillary triumphed with "If HIV/AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25 and 34, there would be an outraged outcry in this country," Joe Biden insisted that the black community had to face reality. He got uneasy chuckles from the audience (hahaha!)

He referred to when he told young black men in his home state of Delaware that is is "not unmanly to wear a condom" and not shameful to get an HIV test.

This is what he said:

"I got tested for AIDS. I know Barack got tested for AIDS," and then Al Sharpton and Obama just looked perplexed. Hahahaha.

The Daily News gave him a C for his overall conviction at the debate. Underneath his picture, it says: "Went bizarro again with "condoms are manly" moment.

He rules in the worst way :D

Whacko Song:

Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train

For all you workers out there

I have been occupying myself with great dignity these past couple of days, working at a public relations firm as an intern. It's been exciting; I go to readings of new plays, I get to read a plethora of newspaper/magazine articles, and I get to go on exciting lunchbreaks smack in the middle of midtown. (The last part was a cynical statement, but I still have fun eating my tuna salad on a toasted bagel for $7.95 a pop.) Being that I do a lot of cutting/pasting, stuffing envelopes, and glueing, I need music to drown out the spacey and silent part of my brain. First, I'll compose a haiku for you:

(5:7:5)

For all you workers

The tasks you must complete are

only for now...yeah.

These theraputic tracks have helped me get through long days, so why should they not help you? They appear random.

Smashing Pumpkins - 1979

Rihanna ft. Jay Z - Umbrella

Interpol - Specialist

Pavement - Shady Lane

Sonic Youth - Unmade Bed

T.Rex - Jeepster

22-Pistepirkko - Rat King

Serge Gainsbourg and Bridget Bardot - Bonnie and Clyde

Go for your dreams!

Best Albums of

1. A Band Of Bees // Octopus

OCTOPUS takes one back to the records of The Zombies and to those of a made-up funkier Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Of course there are modern turns throughout the tracks, but the Bees are certainly outlining their obvious influences. They evolve from the infectious chantyness of "Chicken Payback", and they move onto mild imitation-rock; however, it works. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery; especially when it's done well. Listen to "Go to Let Go," and you will see what I'm talking about--despite me not offering it to you.

A Band of Bees - Love in the Harbour

2. The White Stripes // Icky Thump

This is for my friend Pete. I normally think of The White Stripes staying inside the box of single-metronomal drum catchiness and guitar insanity, and this is no exception. Stripes pull it off; especially in tracks like "Conquest," a Patti Page cover, and "Little Cream Soda." The songs are coated in campyness that it's hard not to even tap your foot. And, to Jack and Meg White's credit, they do incorporate some great brass instruments into the mix. It's a good listen.

(For Pete, I won't put up White Stripes mp3s; we talked about it.)

3. Digitalism // Idealism

Similar to the music and appealing to the followings of Daft Punk and Soulwax, IDEALISM is not really a step forward in electro dance rock, but a celebration of it. "Idealistic" throbs with synths and tough beats while "Apollo-Gize" concludes the record with a somber electronic sing-song. The message of danceable music is undoubtedly conveyed with a digitastic freak flag.

Digitalism - I Want I Want

4. The Pretenders // Get Close (Remastered)

I grew up on this album, so to hear that it was re-released is fantastic. From what I heard, the quality is indeed better, but the songs are still good and recognizably nostalgic. "My Baby" and "Don't Get Me Wrong" are my two personal favorites, but I encourage all to purchase this album or the original. OR you can just listen to it now if you have it. Don't Get Me Wrong...

The Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong

Leaks! have it first.

I am proud to announce the leaks that have unofficially been present for a while; however, I have just recently gotten my hands on them. Summer music is blossoming, in both the album world and the free outside concert world (if you live in NYC.) These songs are pretty good:

From The New Pornographers' upcoming Challengers:
The New Pornographers - My Rights Versus Yours

I love these guys. The harmonies are great.

A respectable song certainly.

From New Young Pony Clubs' upcoming Fantastic Playroom:

New Young Pony Club - Grey

Great riff; funky idea for a song,

even though it isn't NYPC's favorite color.

(evidently, if you listen to the song)

From Islands' upcoming Quebecois:

Islands - Joy

From Spoon's upcoming Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga:

Spoon - My Little Japanese Cigarette Case

Fantastic spanish guitar solo amid the song.

Spoon is great.

From Animal Collective's upcoming Strawberry Jam:
Animal Collective - Unsolved Mysteries

Awesomely Amazing Woo.

Also new is M.I.A.'s Kala out August 20th. It features "Boyz" and "Bird Flu." I like Bird Flu, but Boyz is less than most things on Arular.

Scope these bands out for tour information.

What I know:

The New Pornographers = Special 4th of July Celebration at Battery Park. Animal Collective are in Europe for most of the Summer, but September 30th at Webster Hall, I'm there. Spoon are playing at the SouthStreetSeaport for the River to River festival. Islands played last summer--I haven't checked their progress.

this is what insanity looks like

//Formulas// a summary of the Physics Reference Table

Mechanics

velocity = distance/time

acceleration = change in velocity/time

final velocity = initial velocity + (acceleration x time)

distance = (initial velocity x time) + 1/2(acceleration)(time)squared

final velocity squared = initial velocity squared + 2(acceleration)(distance)

momentum = p = mass x velocity

impulse = J = Fnet(t) = change in momentum

PEs = 1/2kx squared

Electricity

Fe = kq1q2/r2

electric field strength = electrostatic force/charge(q)

potential difference = work(electric energy)/charge

current = change in charge/time
resistance = potential different/current (Ohm's Law)

W=Pt=VIt=IsquaredRt =Vsquaredt/R

Oh! and what's up with stubborn old farts [BATTLES] dissing [The Strokes]?

check out the link on Brooklyn Vegan: http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2007/06/battles_vs_the.html

But seriously, that gets me mad. Even if the video for Atlas is good, whatever: it's about showmanship. Battles, get with it. Respect your fellow industry members.

Also-it really gets me down that Hillary Clinton picked Celine Dion's "You and I" for her campaign song. What the hell is that? Even with her cool Sopranos take-off video, that is inexcusable. She should have taken a page out of Bill's book. His "Don't Stop Thinkin About Tomorrow" campaign song was great. Celine is like farting on the United States. HILLARY! WHERE HAS YOUR MIND GONE?!

Also: CONEY ISLAND THIS SUMMER:

So will it be Daft Punk, Beastie Boys, The Hold Steady, The Black Crowes OR THE B-52's? Actually, it should be noted that the B-52's and Daft Punk are both in Coney Island. The other free concert in Coney Island is on July 21. And then there's the Rockabilly Festival in August.

(taken from Brooklyn Vegan again)

I'll give you a Battles' song: It's my least favorite:

Battles - Leyendecker

Oh So Late, Please Forgive Me // June MiniPlaylist

Readers (the few that you are):

I have been neglecting my divine obligations that I maintain for this blog. Being a struggling high school student, I felt that I needed to take the month of May and the majority of June off for the sake of my studies. I have been taking standardized tests, but I have nevertheless been listening to some very good music. Especially now do I need such music, with my physics regents coming up. Perhaps I'll do better than my lowzy 71 for Chemistry (Although I did jump for joy at the sight of that grade.) Summer is around the corner, and with my [hopefully] new job at this press releasing office for theatre companies plus extraneous time on my hands, I will have more time for music. Here's a June Mini-Playlist. My Apologies.

1. Digitalism - Pogo
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs vs. Daft Punk - World Maps (Along Came Jones Remix)
3. Stab The Matador - Doctor
4. White Rabbits - Kid On My Shoulders
5. The Cribs - Men's Needs

Oh--And I take back all that enthusiasm I expressed for "The Heinrich Maneuver." I was just really excited for an Interpol song (any song) to surface. The chord progression isn't better than Slow Hands--it's identical. I still know that Our Love to Admire will be great though. Everyone will know!

Animal Collective LIVE @ Southstreet Seaport

I just recently got into Animal Collective, even though my friend Ryane had been telling me about them for quite some time along with others. I found myself bored with their abstract-ness, but I embarrasingly erred in judgement.

On Friday, Animal Collective played together on the Seaport Stage, something that seems rare now that Panda Bear made a solo album etc. They started off NYC's River to River Festival off with a bang, if not a trippy explosion. I wish I had more to say, but I was listening in a more profound part of my brain. I do specifically remember "Leaf House" which resembled a mythical chant that would have graced the ears of some ancient figure. That is very bold to say, but man oh man oh man. They mostly played stuff off of their anticipated album Strawberry Jam, which seemed to be an album heavily influenced by middle-eastern culture. It is certainly a suitable choice for the new album. This guy John Frank hated it because he had seen their mask-wearing escapades at Webster Hall the year before. And he was next to a New Jersey Woman Collective (ha!) a.k.a. jappy girls from NJ; however, from where I was standing, it was good. Here's a picture of them, and then the beautiful "Leaf House."

Animal Collective - Leaf House

and a new song off of Strawberry Jam

Animal Collective - Peacebone