Leave it to the Russian Spambots to push my page to 666 views...
The Devil has been on my mind though, cause:
If the Devil is a Lie* (as the saying goes with my folks)
Does that mean the Devil is literally a lie?
As in: The Devil is a fabrication, a falsehood, doesn't actually exist.
Or: The Devil is the embodiment of falsehood.
If the prior is true, is the embodiment of Evil the act or perpetuation of the belief in that particular lie by validating it with inexplicably vile actions?
If the latter is true, is a Liar manifesting the Devil? My folks would say "You (is) a Lie*!" So are you then the Devil?
*Lie is usually taken to mean Liar. "a lie" is "a liar" as I always understood it.
Basically TBR (Toilet Bowl Reading).
Through 2014 each post was named for a song, which is linked in its title. click to listen (preferably launch in a new tab or window though)
2015 onward: I have no clue what will inspire my rambling, as if I needed anything in the first place? The reigns are off, and the rambling truly begins.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Varnaline: A Series of Songs instead of just one
You can thank Columbia House Music Club's Editorial staff for getting me into the music of Varnaline, and ultimately Anders Parker, it's singer, guitarist, and songwriter. They were the band that opened the doors of perception that allowed me to get into other "Alt-Country" labeled bands and artists. It wasn't my particular cup of tea in the 90s, with me having only liked a song here or there by Uncle Tupelo & Wilco, but largely ignoring everything else. There was one Whiskeytown song I adored: Turn Around but by and large the closest I came to Alt-Country was Nirvana: Unplugged in New York. Enter: Neil Young. Enter: Alvin Youngblood Hart. Simply put: Everything changed. It was a Neil Young comparison led me to Varnaline. I scooped up their Zero Hours records, starting with the early demo Man Of Sin EP, followed by the self-titled full length, followed by the Shot and a Beer EP, then Sweet Life LP and their swan song via E-Squared/ Artemis Records: Songs In A Northern Key. After that point future releases were credited to Anders Parker.
I've had the pleasure of meeting Anders Parker as a part of my on again-off again journalism, and it's only made me a greater fan of his work. He also, like many musicians, has a keen ear for great music. This also applies to his own, and as a fan, I just want to tout the fact that he had a streaming music player on his site (that was previously linked in the title of this blog post) and the Varnaline albums were each represented by 1 song, and in each case he picked the song that initially snatched my attention away from wherever my mind goes when I'm zoning out to music, and made me focus in on what he'd created. The player started with full album streams of his most recent work, which includes an EP of ambient instrumental guitar, Cross Latitudes. It was followed by Skyscraper Crow, a double album, one disc composed of synthesizer based recordings (Skyscraper) , and another of acoustic songs (Crow). Then there were selections from his albums baring his name as the artist, which in a surprising turn, omit what I consider the signature songs of said albums, but are still very representative. Lastly came what for me is an undeniable hit parade of Varnaline tunes. Since that stream is gone, I have linked to the Youtube generated playlist of Varnaline songs in the title and here is a link to the Anders Parker playlist. Meanwhile I'll tune in to WILL-FM broadcasting on 127.0.0.1 where what I love lives live over the air.
This still isn't a music blog, it's my blog, and music is a big part of who I am. Thanks to Anders Parker for continually sharing what I consider greatness.
I've had the pleasure of meeting Anders Parker as a part of my on again-off again journalism, and it's only made me a greater fan of his work. He also, like many musicians, has a keen ear for great music. This also applies to his own, and as a fan, I just want to tout the fact that he had a streaming music player on his site (that was previously linked in the title of this blog post) and the Varnaline albums were each represented by 1 song, and in each case he picked the song that initially snatched my attention away from wherever my mind goes when I'm zoning out to music, and made me focus in on what he'd created. The player started with full album streams of his most recent work, which includes an EP of ambient instrumental guitar, Cross Latitudes. It was followed by Skyscraper Crow, a double album, one disc composed of synthesizer based recordings (Skyscraper) , and another of acoustic songs (Crow). Then there were selections from his albums baring his name as the artist, which in a surprising turn, omit what I consider the signature songs of said albums, but are still very representative. Lastly came what for me is an undeniable hit parade of Varnaline tunes. Since that stream is gone, I have linked to the Youtube generated playlist of Varnaline songs in the title and here is a link to the Anders Parker playlist. Meanwhile I'll tune in to WILL-FM broadcasting on 127.0.0.1 where what I love lives live over the air.
This still isn't a music blog, it's my blog, and music is a big part of who I am. Thanks to Anders Parker for continually sharing what I consider greatness.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Brain.
Brain was the name of the Dog on Inspector Gadget. He was the dopest dog ever. One step ahead of everyone. The real detective and secret agent. Cooler than Snoopy, which seemed impossible when I was a kid.
Brain is the arbiter of our thoughts and how the consciousness interacts with our bodies. If it goes off the deep end, we usually follow.
Brain is a song the really helped me de-stress during one of the most stressful years of my life up till that point, circa 97'. It was on a mixtape I made with Some Crew, as well called ourselves back then. I was Grew-Some (I'm finally embracing that name, with that spelling), there was Awe-Some: Jason, (our philosophy major) Hand-Some: Wang/ Robert (the DJ) and Lone-some: De'mon rounded out the core crew. There was also Ran-some: Mike, who was there in the beginning, but went his own way Jarobi style. Some-Sh*t would be the 1st International Some as far as I know, that being Dan from the UK, and then there was And Then Some: RC, who would fittingly come up with the coolest Some name, cause he was a step beyond us in his pursuit of his artistic ambitions. Deep down, our talents seemed to take a backseat to our pursuit of some sort of inner peace. We were all looking for something, and shared the sum of our means to keep each other grounded, and so we were, and thus we remained, even after we long since went our separate ways into adulthood.
I wasn't fond of being Gruesome, because of issues with my self-image, even though that would have let me draw a parallel to other MCs with wicked sounding monickers. Grew-some, the clever play on words really did fit though, cause I had some growing to do. To see where I am vs. where I was, I realize now I had to grow before I could grow into that name.
All that said, I still love that song. 100% chill out vibe.
Brain is the arbiter of our thoughts and how the consciousness interacts with our bodies. If it goes off the deep end, we usually follow.
Brain is a song the really helped me de-stress during one of the most stressful years of my life up till that point, circa 97'. It was on a mixtape I made with Some Crew, as well called ourselves back then. I was Grew-Some (I'm finally embracing that name, with that spelling), there was Awe-Some: Jason, (our philosophy major) Hand-Some: Wang/ Robert (the DJ) and Lone-some: De'mon rounded out the core crew. There was also Ran-some: Mike, who was there in the beginning, but went his own way Jarobi style. Some-Sh*t would be the 1st International Some as far as I know, that being Dan from the UK, and then there was And Then Some: RC, who would fittingly come up with the coolest Some name, cause he was a step beyond us in his pursuit of his artistic ambitions. Deep down, our talents seemed to take a backseat to our pursuit of some sort of inner peace. We were all looking for something, and shared the sum of our means to keep each other grounded, and so we were, and thus we remained, even after we long since went our separate ways into adulthood.
I wasn't fond of being Gruesome, because of issues with my self-image, even though that would have let me draw a parallel to other MCs with wicked sounding monickers. Grew-some, the clever play on words really did fit though, cause I had some growing to do. To see where I am vs. where I was, I realize now I had to grow before I could grow into that name.
All that said, I still love that song. 100% chill out vibe.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Desire On Repeat
There are songs you wish you could play for people, that would speak to their souls, inform their conscience so they could forgo the head and heartaches of life's growing pains, but alas, who really listens? So much goes by the wayside and we are smothered in consumable art.
Anyway, the songs on the list are favorites from different periods of my life that represented how I connected the music of my youth (80s pop and hip hop) to the music of my College years (primarily alternative rock and hip hop). Consider it a mixtape of musical brain food, at least for me. No particular order, just what came to mind at this time.
In particular the Title of this Blog refers to the song it's named for, which is one I think every young woman should learn by heart and come to understand before they ever think about getting involved with anyone. That's just me though.
Anyway, the songs on the list are favorites from different periods of my life that represented how I connected the music of my youth (80s pop and hip hop) to the music of my College years (primarily alternative rock and hip hop). Consider it a mixtape of musical brain food, at least for me. No particular order, just what came to mind at this time.
In particular the Title of this Blog refers to the song it's named for, which is one I think every young woman should learn by heart and come to understand before they ever think about getting involved with anyone. That's just me though.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Carry On
The revised lyrics based on the improved ones featured on the current recordings I have circulating will constitute the body of this post. Truth be told, though I may have long periods of detachment and alienation from parts of my life and the framework of my being, when it comes time to sing, I feel a responsibility to voice the idealistic and convicted part of my person. Sometimes I guess I feel a bit repressed by the world and the negotiations we have to make to reconcile our lives in it, and deep down there's a preacher, a single apostle waiting to be loosed? Maybe not. Anyway, here's the lyrics to that new one I love so much:
Carry On
Many get lost on this journey trying to find an easy way home
all of the shortcuts leave me yearning, burning inside, wondering which way is up
we were meant for more than to wander around aimlessly in the wilderness
all the manna that would have nourished us has been consumed, let that digest
yet we must carry on
the weight of this baggage that you burden yourself with, with all of your sin
weighs on your mind, weighs down your soul, but you must keep on going, keep on sowing
all the temptations that bemuse you, all the things that confuse you
they’ll be lifted in the end
if you just carry on
voices in your head screaming to and fro, pulling you near and far with nothing left to show
from the struggle, the hustle, kicking up dust in your mind that blinds you obscures the light
you must deny your self, deny your regret, deny the distractions, you’re lifted from in debt
there’s more to you than you’ll ever know, it’s something born within, an ember that glows
but they try to impede you, try to deceive you, try to entomb you with choices that doom you
until a new age has dawned, or your final breath is drawn, steel yourself, and carry on
Carry On
Many get lost on this journey trying to find an easy way home
all of the shortcuts leave me yearning, burning inside, wondering which way is up
we were meant for more than to wander around aimlessly in the wilderness
all the manna that would have nourished us has been consumed, let that digest
yet we must carry on
the weight of this baggage that you burden yourself with, with all of your sin
weighs on your mind, weighs down your soul, but you must keep on going, keep on sowing
all the temptations that bemuse you, all the things that confuse you
they’ll be lifted in the end
if you just carry on
voices in your head screaming to and fro, pulling you near and far with nothing left to show
from the struggle, the hustle, kicking up dust in your mind that blinds you obscures the light
you must deny your self, deny your regret, deny the distractions, you’re lifted from in debt
there’s more to you than you’ll ever know, it’s something born within, an ember that glows
but they try to impede you, try to deceive you, try to entomb you with choices that doom you
until a new age has dawned, or your final breath is drawn, steel yourself, and carry on
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Gold Digger
That one up there is a personal favorite of mine. Looking back, I was influenced so deeply by all that I took in during my childhood, preteens and teens. I'm thinking about my apprehensions about dating again, and the most powerful one is directly related to LOVING that jam back in the day. I could do an EPMD song every day and just go completely off the deep end about how the philosophical underpinnings of my own personality are derived from my initial reaction to and impression of the song. They definitely shaped my attitude time and time again cause their songs actually spoke to REAL LIFE, and practical wisdom that wasn't totally degrading and crude.
Anyway, been lacking on the blogging, due to a lot of factors, but I'm back, for this moment at least. Too many good songs to riff off lately. It's been overwhelming me into silence, metaphorically.
Anyway, been lacking on the blogging, due to a lot of factors, but I'm back, for this moment at least. Too many good songs to riff off lately. It's been overwhelming me into silence, metaphorically.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Radiating Apathy
Focus and commitment are essential to productivity. I am lacking. Age is a verb with me, it's something we do, it's not something I am. I am watching the life I know age. It's gotten old, and as a result my enthusiasm has waned. I'm not aching to be vital because I am hyper aware of my mortality, which makes me conscious of my being alive and well at this very moment. I say vital instead of youthful because I don't believe being young predisposes us to vitality, and I think the growing rates of childhood obesity and docility are evidence of that.
If anything being young parallels voraciousness and the propensity for consumption. When we are young we are developing, processing, mentally and biologically, and the more we consume, the more we develop and process in a myriad of ways. It's not always for the best though. As we mature, we may recognize some of the distortions and perversions at work during our development and disassociate from them, alienating our selves from our experiences for the sake of our sanity. At some point this process can become distorted and perverse as well, and undermine our capacity for empathy, one of the most distinct human traits. If I have any conviction to cling to, it's that we can't settle for being apathetic, but when our culture produces such polarizing viewpoints and society continues to divide into combative factions with no sign of a dialectic process developing out of the conflict, if you want better, you start to let go of this world. It just seems like this world isn't made for, or doesn't desire peace. Is Earth capable of sustaining a peaceful biological coexistence of species? I would like to think so. But is Humanity?
If anything being young parallels voraciousness and the propensity for consumption. When we are young we are developing, processing, mentally and biologically, and the more we consume, the more we develop and process in a myriad of ways. It's not always for the best though. As we mature, we may recognize some of the distortions and perversions at work during our development and disassociate from them, alienating our selves from our experiences for the sake of our sanity. At some point this process can become distorted and perverse as well, and undermine our capacity for empathy, one of the most distinct human traits. If I have any conviction to cling to, it's that we can't settle for being apathetic, but when our culture produces such polarizing viewpoints and society continues to divide into combative factions with no sign of a dialectic process developing out of the conflict, if you want better, you start to let go of this world. It just seems like this world isn't made for, or doesn't desire peace. Is Earth capable of sustaining a peaceful biological coexistence of species? I would like to think so. But is Humanity?
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