month end-o!

I’m really happy to see that people are checking out local bands through my blog. Makes me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile. I added a little page at the top of the site titled Local Music, which I’ll add on to from now and then.

It’s the end of the month already! In a couple of weeks, the new friends I’ve made will be leaving for greener pastures and I’ll met some new ones. Looking forward meeting even more people!

I’ve been able to actually complete and hand in my tutorials, so I’m pretty happy about that. Something I never managed or bothered to do last year.

I’ve gotten rather unfit though in the time that’s passed. I can barely run my 2.4km comfortably or do 10 pullups anymore! Goodness. I have got to start being more active so I don’t fall asleep in lectures or anything.

I hung out with my Korean classmate Kim yesterday after school, it was interesting to hear about his life and perspective. I think nothing quite opens you up like meeting people from other cultures. All the more I feel certain that I want to travel the world and absorb as much as I can. There is really so much more to the world than what you can learn from one place. I mean, even your teachers and familes, with all their experience and good intentions, can’t teach you what you can learn from having an experience yourself outside your comfort zone.

Last year me, Po Liang and Ahmad started CAVEvents, which was a great idea and a great success early on but sort of fell apart because of our lack of discipline and commitment. We’re all 18 this year and I think we should be able to get something working this time around. I’ll reveal more as it comes along.

I’m listening to Radiohead abit more these days. They were all I listened to back in Secondary 1, and I sort of forgot them when chasing new influences for the sort of music that I played myself. Gives me some perspective.

I guess that’s what it’s all about. Perspective. Alright I got a literature lecture in half an hour, and I’m going to go eat something first before I go! Maybe Mee Goreng. Ehehe. Catch you later.

as you can see

if you comment on my blog, my lurkers love it. so comment for hits for your own blog ;P

It’s late so goodnight!

baaack.

I’ve been away from this blog for a little while! I’ve been busy with school, recording with Armchair Critic, and generally just lazing and bumming around really.

In my absence:

SukarnoSUHARTO (oops) passed away, at 86 years old. I haven’t read up enough about him to formulate much of an opinion, but I am looking forward to the changes (hopefully good) that may come.

Heath Ledger passed away, in his late 20s, leaving behind a young daughter. He was in his prime, having done a few brilliant films- I am looking forward very much to the next Batman in which he played The Joker. The good thing about dying young is that you will forever be remembered in your prime. Think Elvis, Bruce Lee, Marilyn Monroe and the others.

I missed Fasten Your Seatbelts! 2. Damn it! I was really looking forward to going and reviewing it. I apologize to anybody who was expecting a review!

O level results are out! Victoria School got a mean of 10.5 L1R5, well done guys! Keep our flag unfurled.

baybeats 08 results!

Congratulations to:

AnnaJudgeApril
Another Epic Story
Cardinal Avenue
Leeson
Midnight Marvel
Morning Utopia
PeepShow
Silhouette
Sourgrapes
The Oslo Castaways
You&Whose’s Army?

I’ve never heard of Midnight Marvel and Morning Utopia (and I find it kind of funny how their names play together) so I must apologize for not having much to say about them. Will be good to see some fresh faces! Hoping for a pleasant surprise!

AnnaJudgeApril have been around for some time and theirs will be a good set to catch! The synth adds a nice touch. I’ve never seen them play live, but I know their bassist Ashruff and he’s a great guy!

I’ve never caught Another Epic Story live- I’ve heard that they’re really tight (well, you must be if you get through the Baybeats Auditions!) though I’ve also heard some not-so-nice stuff about their attitude. Still, everybody deserves a chance, and these guys earned their right to play so I will be going down to check them out and you should too!

Cardinal Avenue is a great young band! John is killer on the drums and Faris’s lead guitar work is intricate stuff. The band as a whole is punchy and powerful! You can hear some strains of The Fire Fight, Paramore and others along those vein in their music. Prahlad’s vocals are abit of an acquired taste, but it grows on you and it’s very distinctive! These guys are hardworking, and I will be looking forward to catching them after such a long time! And I believe they win the title of Holy-Shit-The-Bassist-Is-The-Tallest-Dude-Ever despite tough competition from Armchair Critic, Cigarette Sex, Fine Print and others.

Leeson is just fucking yummy stuff for the eyes and ears (yes I believe I am justified in using the F word!). A band with alot of depth, in as many senses of the word as I can think of. Lots of character, great music, meaningful lyrics, lovable guys. A class act that doesn’t take itself too seriously, just the right amount. These guys are a Must-Catch! And you gotta love their sense of style- they could totally just walk into a fashion magazine spread.

PeepShow is great stuff that you have to catch also. Very straightforward, and they manage to do the difficult balancing act of being very heartlander (you can sense the nasi padang in vocalist Zaki and the Katong in lead guitarist SK) without being corny. They play a refreshing brand of music, power-pop-esque stuff with some groove. SK’s lead guitar work is brilliant and hauntingly beautiful, and Zaki’s charisma shines through. And you can’t miss out on their sense of humour!

I’ve caught Silhouette for a short while before, and my impression was a good one- brilliantly tight and brilliantly musical. For me I find that they sound a little bit similar to a group of local bands that all seem to draw their music from the same well, but I’m guessing that was because I didn’t stay long enough to hear them properly. Everybody I know who’s caught them proper has good things to say about them, and their lead guitarist in particular. And I do remember talking to them before, and they are very nice people!

Sourgrapes is my second Must-Catch! band. I first caught these guys at a garage-style gig at Zai Studios last year, and caught them again at a Deafcon gig, and they sent me to this little place that few bands have sent me to before. I have alot of admiration for these guys (and alot more jealousy too). I’m going to go a little arty-farty here when I say these guys are really “ungh” in the sense that they really throw themselves into their music like it’s the only thing they’ve got. Great music, great vocals, these guys are the real deal. No airs, no pretenses, just raw, honest and heartfelt music from them straight to you. You will feel the connection.

The Oslo Castaways is a band I’ve heard of often but never caught live, but one thing for sure, they’ve got style. I read their blog and I liked what I saw. They’ve got quite a sizable fanbase and I’ve heard nothing but good things about these guys! And the girl is cute!

You and Whose Army? is a alternative rock band I’ve been meaning to catch for the longest time. It’s the title of a Radiohead song so I’m not surprised by the influence in their music! They manage to avoid sounding pretentious and cheem-wannabe (I swear, Cheem-Wannabe should be a genre, and I’m sure we all can think of a couple of bands that would fit in that catagory). Looking forward to catching them!

By the way, The Oslo Castaways, You and Whose Army?, AnnaJudgeApril and Midnight Marvel all have women in them! (Midnight Marvel has 2!) I was really hoping for Postbox to make it though, that would have upped the girl power count! Hopefully we’ll see them up in 2009!

SEE YOU ALL AT BAYBEATS 2009!

won’t let you give up on a miracle

I am totally enjoying school! The long hours are starting to come together and I’m quite awake. My class (08a01) is very spirited and fun-loving and I’m going to miss those who leave during JAE! I think I’m even closer to these guys than NYJC’s PAE 0723. Although that might be because I didn’t go to school after about 2 weeks.

I am totally loving Literature, History and GP! I love the teachers, I love the subject matter, it’s all so fun. I love my teachers. This is so second-wind. I can actually follow in my maths and get my work done!

Yesterday I dropped by Boon’s house after school and I managed to get my Maths assignment done.  Partial fractions if you’re interested. Then after that I went over to Siglap McDonald’s and I managed to get my GP assignment done! *cue applause*

This is the first time I’ve ever really managed to will myself to do my homework and be completely free before nightfall! I don’t intend to turn into a mugger or anything- I would turn short and white before that happens. But I do hope I can continue this trend of completing my assignments and revision. I really can’t study at home because the atmosphere is so tense, everybody’s lost faith in me so it doesn’t help.

Looking for study buddies! Anywhere around Tampines, Bedok, Siglap’s awesome. I know you’re out there, people! Especially all you lovely j2s.

My body is totally aching from PE and I love it. Haven’t done anything physical in such a long time! There is so much to do, so much to do. Got to revise history (because I enjoyed it and I want to remember everything!),

I don’t understand how I can always sound so convincing when I tell myself or anybody else “nothing to do lah, sian.”

Seriously!

Anyway, today is Boon’s birthday, so HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY BOON! You can now legally buy cigarettes and alcohol and watch M18 movies. While I write this, I bet he just walked out of school and put his IC on the counter at the nearest 7-11, just for the hell of it.

Chalet tonight! It’s been a long while since I’ve met Boon and Ahmad at the same time without Armchair Critic on the agenda.  They’re my two best mates and we’ve been through all sorts of highs and lows together, even though it’s only been about a year and a half that we’ve known each other. I’m really looking forward to spending some quality time with them later.

I don’t know how I can feel so fulfilled and so empty at the same time, these days. I’ll write a song about it if I can express it properly.

Cheers!

agree that there ain’t no romance around here

It’s the 14th of January! Two out of fifty four weeks of 2008 are gone now.

I went to Daniaal’s birthday party at Francesca’s house last Saturday night! Met the Plushfools and Armchair Critic guys, new friends Nic, Cynthia and Ezra, and hung out with Annurshah and Ryan. Francesca’s little brother is cute but quite the devil! Love kids. The highlights were probably playing Twister and just generally bumming around.

 Some of us ended up staying up to watch soccer too. Arsenal drew one-all, unfortunately. Decent game.  To quote Wenger, “The crowd was good, but we were not.” And Manchester United absolutely demolished Newcastle United six-nil! Poor Newcastle. It didn’t even really look like alot of effort on Man Utd’s part. I’m going to expect three pictures of near-naked Christiano Ronaldo on Gloria’s blog then. Brr.

Kah Lua with milk is yummy stuff! It’s like milo. Mmmm. And Fran makes brilliant Tiramisu. After all ended, me, Daniaal and Ezra walked over to 168 for Nasi Pattaya. It was about 4am by then. My mum woke up, found me not in bed, panicked and called and screamed at me like hell-spawn. I damn blur lah. So I ran home straight away. Haha.

 I’m in the school library now and I don’t really know what to talk about. i’m in the middle of a two hour break in the middle of the day (from 1230 to 230pm) before I have another two hours of tutorials until 4.30pm. And I think I have guitar ensemble after that until 7pm. Such a long lazy day! My body clock is so messed up.

Armchair Critic has got a couple of shows coming up! We’re playing Deafcon 9 this Saturday at DXO with our good friends Valentine’s Letter (awesome, awesome band) and the entry is only $5, including a drink! So worth it man. And after that we’re playing a tiny intimate show at Beat Merchants, which is around Arab Street. That should be quite fun too. Only $3, this one! We’ll be playing different stuff in both gigs, probably, so try and come for both! We might be playing some of our older songs, so if you only heard us recently, you might be surprised by some of our older material! The combined price is still less than some gigs we’ve played in the past =P

Ugh, Maths tutorial in half an hour. Then GP. Ah well at least we don’t really have homework yet. I can do abit of partial fractions but I don’t really get comparing co-efficients. Anybody can help me out ? Going to ask my tutor about it later. I SHALL BE A PRODUCTIVE AND EFFECTIVE STUDENT THIS YEAR!

Catch you guys around.

possibly the best i’ve written

(this was from last year)

silly boy

do you move on with a broken past
bleed patterns dancing on shattered glass
warm your skin with meaningless lust
bask in the confusion and distrust

if you somehow run fast enough
and you want it badly, badly enough
do the walls of the jail that hole up your heart
fall apart

do the memories dance
like moths to a flame
does your mind rattle and hum
with nicotine in your veins

fuck you for speaking your mind
fuck you for leaving the left behind
fuck you for making mistakes
and fuck you for the fairytales

when you have nothing to hold on to
but the words with no weight
and your very conscience leaves you
for the bridges burnt in your wake

hate me- i’m honest
love me- i’m a liar
don’t look for revelations there aren’t any
don’t look for reconcillations there aren’t any

silly boy

Go Obama!

To quote Chris Rock: “Liberals are idiots, Conservatives are idiots, Democrats are idiots, Republicans are idiots- anybody who makes up their mind about an issue before hearing it is a fucking fool!”

But seeing how we live in a world that likes to segregate itself, presumably so that everybody has a group of people who agree with them on which group of people to disagree with, I’m going to have to support Mr. Obama because he simply makes the most sense and seems to be the most competent of everybody. I love his emotion, his culture, his ability to speak from the heart without a prepared speech (by some other scriptwriter)

Either way, America could use a president who wasn’t white. I don’t think Hilary Clinton is that bad of an idea either, and we have never seen a female president too. But I believe that we need a man of Obama’s culture more so that Clinton’s war-like state. You can’t Fuck For Virginity, so how can you Fight For Peace? You have to set an example, really.

If I REALLY had my way though, I’d make Chris Rock the President of the USA.

PS: The Obama Girl is smokin’ hot!

Researchers more likely to jump to conclusions: Observation

Smokers more likely to feel suicidal: Study

“A clear and alarming link between smoking and suicide”, they found. “Campaigns for reducing smoking should also point to the elevated risk of suicidality,” they say.

Of course there is a link between smoking and suicide. There is also an alarming link between hunger and poverty, so obviously hunger causes poverty.

Or maybe it is the other way around?
“The more a person smoked, the likelier he or she would have suicidal thoughts.”

Maybe, just maybe, it’s because suicidal people are depressed and stressed and plain smoke more?

There are smokers out there who are rich, have fulfilling lives, happy families and meaningful relationships with those around them. Are they more likely to commit suicide because of smoking? I think not.

There are depressed people out there who feel helpless and out-of-control of themselves, their lives and their happiness. These people are far more likely to smoke, drink and abuse drugs heavily.

I’m sure if these researchers did a study in a bar, they’d find that the heaviest drinkers have the most suicidal tendencies. Drinking more gives you suicidal tendencies then, certainly!

Just because there is a co-relation between A and B does not in any way prove that A causes B. B could cause A, or A and B could both be caused by C.

Who is paying these guys? They ought to get their funding cut.

hug-an-indian!

Apparently, Jan 10th is International “Hug-an-Indian” Day. This is a mass cult following in Facebook, found here.

I am expecting alot from you people!