Another Music Switcheroo

Listening to: Sufjan Stevens - Sufjan Stevens invites you to: Come on feel the Illinoise

A couple months ago I promised Tim that I'd write a blog on some music he handed to me. After listening to it and growing to love it oh so much I have come to some conclusions that may or may not change. These cds have made it through my mp3 player several times in the past months. Since I am doing a major overhaul on my player contents I figured this was as good a time as any to pause and reflect on the good tunes that have worked themselves into my heart.
So here is a selection of the latest:

Belle & Sebastien - Push Barman to Open Old Wounds: I love these guys. In fact after only a few listens I went out and bought the actual cd. Nothing like some modern scottish rock ballads to soothe the soul. I can't believe I missed their North American tour. Its also the best type of music for a lonely bus ride through the city.

Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah - Selftitled: Also an amazing disc, a little like the Arcade Fire but better I think in some respects (clearly not in all respects). This band encompasses all that I love about modern rock music. It is a super solid disc through and through.

Islands - Return to the Sea: What can I say other than I listened to it over and over again while driving back to Ottawa from camping in the summer. 5 hours of the same cd! Not to many cds can handle that. Click on the link for a good pitchfork review.

Preston School of Industry - Monsoon: Another great disc. Lots of good wails. Their version of 'Caught in the Rain' is amazing.

Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary: Took a while to get into this one as it is louder than most music I am into these days. Has a bit of a Franz Ferdinand feel to it. Good times.

Yo La Tengo - Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs: 1985-2003: A smattering indeed. I have really only begun in the last two weeks to appreciate this band. I prefer some of the softer songs on disc 2 like 'Autumn Sweater' and 'Tears Are in Your Eyes'. They tend to go on these lengthy noisy bits which you really have to listen too hard if you want to appreciate it.

Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible: One of my favourite bands and this cd fits in well as a good backdrop to my other manics cds. It is some of their older stuff from when they still had their lead singer and a 4-piece band. Its rougher and louder and you have to like the manics to like this stuff. I recommend their more accessible compilations like 'Lipstick Traces' to get into the (in my opinion) kings of Britpop.

Happy Listening!

I Hate Suburbs: Reason #88

Listening to: Yo La Tengo - Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs 1985-2003


Finally a study that clearly states that suburbs are unhealthy and are therefore a burden on the health care system. (I added the last part because since the study was done in the US they don't have a health care system.)
Yes its true, we knew all this already BUT now there has been a study!

Reuben needs......

Listening to: The Clumsy Lovers - Save For You

I have been tagged by Jolene (welcome back to the blogging world Jo!)
I am supposed to type "Reuben needs" into google and see what I need. So according to google these are the top ten things that I need.

Reuben needs... Prayer - Absolutely
Reuben needs... all these hospital procedures - Aaaaaah why are there men in white suits bursting through the doors!!!!!
Reuben needs... to do more than his Luther Vandross impression - Hey I do all I can.
Reuben needs... a Nobel Prize - And I don't even know why
Reuben needs... to do a press release for each county - On what?
Reuben needs... to learn how to loosen up - Absolutely (i mean if I am like Einstein)
Reuben needs... to lose his 'nothing ventured, nothing lost' attitude - Hey doesn't that kind of contradict the last one?
Reuben needs... a second chance - More than a second chance i think.
Reuben needs... rye - Need I say more.
Reuben needs... a full measure of love and courage to get by

I think that last one sums it all up pretty nicely so we shall leave it at that.
I won't bother tagging anybody because I don't think anyone who wasn't tagged already actually reads this blog. If you havn't been tagged by anyone else and you find yourself reading this consider yourself tagged!

I don't think I am that smart!

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

The Butterfly Flaps It's Wings

Irene and I just finished watching a movie called 'Happenstance' (the French title is 'Le Battement d'ailes du papillon'). It was a french foreign film with subtitles and that distinct, fresh non-hollywood approach. And the star is the wonderful Audrey Tautou from 'Amelie'. If you havn't seen 'Amelie' rent it now and if you have than you will like this movie too. Watch out for the nude scene that seems to last faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar to long. I don't think that was necessary (fast forward without missing anything).
Anyway, I just thought it was good to see another fresh movie. Sure it was a romantic comedy but it was so different and so much better and so much more fulfilling in the end. It wasn't intellectual or brilliant but it kept you thinking.
And I like Audrey Tautou. I found that she reminds me somewhat of Audrey Hepburn in 'Breakfast at Tiffanys'. Plus the movie had so many shots of the Paris Metro which I find facinating for some reason.

Now I am going to bed.

Are Pumpkins that Fun?

Its been a while since I carved a pumpkin but I wouldn't mind trying now that I probably have a little more finesse with a large knife than I did at six years old. But what if I did a carving so good that I wanted to keep it year after year? Well I just found out that now you can do that. Check out Funkins. It is unreal what you can find on the internet. I love Google sometimes (when they aren't trying to take over the world)

Rick Mercer reporting on WestJet

Anybody who watches the Rick Mercer report will know what I am talking about here. This week he is made an honorary Westjetter for a day. See the show Tuesday @ 8 on CBC of course.

Irene and her fellow westjetters are all giddy with excitement (I'm probably exaggerating but if you have ever flown with WJet you would know what I mean)

Anyway, it should prove to be a good show. Most of the people I know at WestJet are pretty crazy cool people. Combine that WestJetter attitude with good ol' Rick and funny stuff is bound to happen.

If you miss it check here.

Also he did a spoof on one of their "Owners" commercials. Check it out here by scrolling down to Nov. 29 2005.