O Solitude- John Keats

One of my favoritest (yep, just made it a word) poems ever.


O Solitude! if I must with thee dwell,
Let it not be among the jumbled heap
Of murky buildings: climb with me the steep, - 
Nature's observatory -whence the dell,
In flowery slopes, its river's crystal swell,
May seem a span; let me thy vigils keep
'Mongst boughs pavilioned, where the deer's swift leap
Startles the wild bee from the foxglove bell.
But though I'll gladly trace these scenes with thee,
Yet the sweet converse of an innocent mind,
Whose words are images of thoughts refined,
Is my soul's pleasure; and it sure must be
Almost the highest bliss of human-kind,
When to thy haunts two kindred spirits flee.

My Top 5 From 2010

#5 -Local Natieves- Gorilla Manor
This album was a great breath of fresh air for me. With relatively uncomplicated lyrics and clear vocals the catchiness of most songs was instantaneous. They took everyday life and turned it into a beautiful, deep piece of art. One of the most distinct characteristics of this band is how each instrument maintains its integrity and doesn't get lost in the sound of another. Instruments were not the backdrop for vocals, but rather the perfect duo. This is widely apparent in who knows who cares where splashy drums cut loose and throw the basic components of the song into another dimension of beauty. Poignant undertones lace through the fabric of their music, but the overall tone of this album is energetic and almost upbeat for them. Overall, I can't wait to see what else this band will do.

#4- Colour Revolt- The Cradle
Honestly, I didn't give this band much attention aside from a few popular songs like Mattresses Underwater before this album. I immediately fell in love. Starting off the album with a punch in the gut, 8 years, that is sassy, bitter, and strangely addictive. This album wasn't saying we don't care anymore, it was saying we just care about music. The range of emotions you feel through this album is almost cathartic, where they start off with an almost angry tone, then dropping to deep, love and pain in everything is just the same, and back up almost in triumph in brought to life. The lyrics are deep, deliberate, and poetically ambiguous, to where only a certain amount of content can be directly interpreted. Vocals blow my mind. Perfect harmonizing should not be possible here, but I get week in the knees when I listen. I know a lot of you already have opinions on this album, this may not be what you got out of it, so don't worry if you think I'm wrong.

#3- Beach House-  Teen Dream
I can't even explain how much I love every song this artist has ever produced. Beach house is something else, and if you like them, you can't get enough. This album is amazing though. The best way I can describe their overall tone is haunting- lingering, dark, wanton beauty disguised in cleverly lovely ballads. They enhance aesthetics, evoke communion with nature, inspire imagination, and soothe the heart with relatively simple choruses like "I'll take care of you, if you ask me to" and  perfectly complimenting music. Their music is heavily romantic in a modest way. All you can do is sing along and dream you're getting lost in the woods. This would have been my number one, but musically I'm far more impressed with the next two.

#2- Arcade Fire- The Suburbs
Rarely can a band produce a more complete album. All together, I think its stunningly beautiful how well each song dives into the next, taking you from one scene, one reflection and solution in our Urban World to the next. Extremely dynamic will staying true to the distinct Arcade Fire sound, this album just passes all pre-conceived notions of this band. The mechanical genius of understanding their audience will most likely be playing their album in their cars, and attaching their atheistical settings to the music is commendable. Its uncannily connected, amazingly deep and cleverly complex, leaving the listener endlessly rapt. They did it. You're left speechless but you completely get it.

#1- Arctic Monkeys- Humbug
These guys have  been a long time favorite of mine. Having the reputation of being sarcastic, unpolished,   and bratty, this album is consistent with their nature as artists. Humbug was a huge let-down for most American fans, however. There were no cute, peppy, catchy love songs or upbeat break-up songs to be found. No, this band stumbled down into the darkness, and emerged void of all immaturity. They stopped caring about what anyone wanted and produced huge sound, wicked lyrics, with a new, grungy look. One of my favorite songs is pretty visitors where they actually make fun of their fans in concerts. Huge drums, great base, dark lyrics, classic Alex Turner voice everyone loves telling a different story- its  near perfect. The apparent inspiration deriving from the carnival scene actually impresses compared to notions most have about that type of music. This is one of the best transformations of a band I've seen, and is why I had to make it number one.

3rd Album

I'm a believer in the third album. (It actually can be like the fourth or fifth, but for the sake of catchiness, I'll leave it at that). Usually, what happens to musicians or bands that establish their name in the music kingdom and accumulate a devoted fan base, is they gain a little courage. The transformation into adulthood takes pace, and like a defiant, bratty 18yr old (Not Me ;)) they take the reins and go in a different direction. This almost always entices a great negative reaction. Critics disapprovingly remark on their lack of consistency or vision or abandonment of musical identity. Fans break-up the music love affair, upset that their love changed. After the initial shock and bitterness subsides, the smart ones will come back and realize something- their band just had a breakthrough. Its when musicians quit caring what everyone thinks and do what they want. They expirament, push limits, change their styles, and show what they're made of. I say if the "third album" doesn't generate such a reaction, or is exactly what you expected, they're doing something wrong.


Rock n' Roll!

Sink

Did you ever see

The dawn so dark?

They sky's blue is cold,

Stark,

And when you gaze on

The stars,

The light dwindles;

Chased away

With your grand thoughts,

Forcing you to think

Scared and small-

Drowning in a blue wall

Of almost day.

Fashionistas

If your in a band, you need to be trendy- sorry, thats the rules. Oh, and if you say whatever, "I'll wear whatever I want ", but what you want isn't in, well you probably have bad music too. Sorry, I know stats ok. But here are some fashionistas I just can't get over. Bono!- He practically invented the fashion of my favorite clothing- the military parade jacket. Karen O- she pretty much sums up trashy hipster rock-a-holic and makes it appealing. Oh, and she did the one glove, fem michael jackson look long before lady gaga! And last and but not least Julian Casablancas. He mixes classic with uber trend flawlessly. Over ten years of prominence in the music industry and all his looks are still recycled trends this month even. <3 So, I just want to thank the music industry... I don't know where fashion would be without you and your artistic musicians.

List

Light

Chairs

Boots

Oatmeal

Peaches

Coffee

Tea

Pristina

Joey Bellville is one of the coolest people I know, hands down. With his wide range of talents including musical composition, he is constantly putting new dynamic projects that are not only musically appealing, but morally aswell. He's all about the big picture, and how to make a statement that is culturally relevant. I want to let this video speak for itself, so I'll stop there. But take the time to watch. I'm definately stoked about pristina. ;D

Eh.... just photos

Something You Said

So there you go on bleeding
And we all watch
Behind the curtain
Clutching to the fabric
Lowering voices to a hush
Eyes wide open
Lips sealed tight
Toes cling to the ground
You feel the earth spinning
And we descend
Like a watery dream
In your blood
Painting circles
Enough is enough
We'll have to patch you up

Thinking Tall

Somehow, after we grow a couple feet, or more depending on how tall you are, we exchange our view of the great, broad, imposing world for a tired, small, harmless one. No, honestly. You may have a great imagination and a profound propensity to awe in reverence towards nature, but think of your viewpoint compared to when you were a child. When you're smaller than everything, and your brain is soaking up endless reserves of information, the world is a very different place. It was beautiful, strange, scary or friendly, but mostly huge. I know adults like me (yeah- 18, I count as an adult) recognize this somewhat depressing change and ask ourselves- why? I'm not sure if I can answer this question, but I definitely know we long to reconstruct that viewpoint, minimize ourselves and drown in a mentality of fascination and smallness. One of the most prominent ways we go about doing that is in our communion with nature. I feel like you can talk to adults and almost any one of them will admit their adulation for overwhelming landmarks . We love things like the ocean, the mountains, dense forests, anything that is large enough to put us in that mindset of minutia. That's why I believe in the importance of finding that location that makes you feel utterly, completely, reassuringly small, and spend some time there.

The Black Cab Sessions. Check em out.

Folly Inspiration

He desired to resurrect her,

Bring her to that former state of intimate inspiration.

Oh she is still beheld lovely,

And divine;

Perhaps perfected still,

Though rotten at her core.

But his sight is no longer illuminated

With the spark of ideas received,

Conceived from wanton gaze.

No, no, no- it is dead as stone,

Perpetuated at the spot

Where her pedestal became a throne.

Whence it commenced-

This catastrophic transformation?

Ah, at the point of his folly:

When inflicted with one vulnerable wound, one self-induced,

Desperate and pained, he cried out for aid

No longer desiring a kindled mind, but healing.

And she in so loving him, uncorrupted still,

Cleaned and mended and restored

Him to the man of former might.

Thus began his plight, innocently enough.

For when she tasted his blood,

Her knowledge and power grew.

New and dark was her way-

She, feeding on him,

And he, forced to obey.

Deceptive and beautiful, his

Muse became a treacherous siren.

Folly inspiration.

Hat

fin.

A Rush of Blood to the Head- In My Place

In my place, in my place
Were lines that I couldn't change
I was lost, oh yeah

I was lost, I was lost
Crossed lines I shouldn't have crossed
I was lost, oh yeah

Yeah, how long must you wait for him?
Yeah, how long must you pay for him?
Yeah, how long must you wait for him?

I was scared, I was scared
Tired and underprepared
But I wait for you

If you go, if you go
Leaving me here on my own
Well I wait for you

Yeah, how long must you wait for him?
Yeah, how long must you pay for him?
Yeah, how long must you wait for him?

Please, please, please
Come on and sing to me
To me, me

Come on and sing it out, out, out
Come on and sing it now, now, now
Come on and sing it

In my place, in my place
Were lines that I couldn't change
I was lost, oh yeah
Oh yeah

On music

Oh where to begin! Music, music, music, the fashion statement of the metaphorically clothed heart- how I love thee! Seriously though, there are way too many talented artists out there to fully list and describe, however since the fall is just around the corner (whoever came up with that phrase is dumb as lum) and I thought I'd let you all know of some good fall music you should check out. Eisley (more spring usually) but still stunning with this type of weather. (I know my grammar is disgusting but it's a blog so technically it doesn't matter). Colour revolt. Beach House. Bibio. Brooke Waggoner (winter too). Coldplay- A rush of blood to the head album. Fernando Ortega (worship). Fleet foxes (all year). Spoon. Avi Buffalo. Callisto. (Dusk) Arcade Fire (more late summer). Bob Dylan. (wintery) Coconut records. Kooks (more winter).... for now that does it for perfect fall music. Sorry I'm not trying to be clever, this is it ;D

My Little Muses of Delusion

Chew On It

There are so many intricate layers to a culture. Behavioral patterns, languages, stories, arts, technology, morals... things we take from our everyday surroundings that we adhere to our person are all incorporated to that massive subcategory of humanity. I don't know, I guess I just think its pretty funny- we make such great strides to cultivate and shape the components into an individual description of ourselves. We have opinions on everything, so much so that our opinions become extensions of the descriptions of our person. Opinions differ vastly in all categories, yet are distinct enough to generalize from one large culture to the next. The American worldview and culture is different from other world cultures, and so on. Even still, as "Americans" we form distinct alliances, choosing differing opinions on politics, religion, arts, sciences, and morals. Its just so funny to me that the arbitrary is glorified into something almost spiritual. I have lead myself to believe that my opinions on clothing, music, religion, politics and so on define who I am amongst others, but I can still fit into a generalization. I guess what I'm trying to get at (if you could even track what I've been saying at all) is that we think we're so different, and we form such strong opinions on things that just make us more generalized into a type of culture. haha. Its humbling to realize you're not so original, and that your opinions are just a tiny thread in the tapestry of a large society.

Haunting

I think things that are haunting are some of the most beautiful and inspiring things. Here are some definitions of the word that I love.

Continually recurring to the mind; unforgettable

poignantly sentimental; enchantingly or eerily evocative

arousing or capable of arousing deep emotion;

having a deeply disquieting or disturbing effect

Trendy Emy

Death Dreams

In almost any suspenseful dream, you'll reach a certain point where your subconscious decides that it's necessary for the plot and momentum to propel you into a situation where you are dying. This happens to me quite frequently in that unconscious mental state, but then you wake up right as they stab you or the trigger is pulled or the giant bear rips your head off. On two separate occasions my brain has decided to try and simulate what it would be like if I actually died. The first time this happened made logical sense and it seemed like a viable scenario of death- it went along with my religious beliefs on death (for the most part) and honestly, it made the "journey into the after life" less scary for me. Well the other instance when I "died" in my dream happened just last night. It was completely random and I have no idea where my brain pulled these ridiculous theories. When I died and got sent to this weird alternate dimension, I was so mad that I died. I totally wasn't ready, I loved living my life, and there were so many things I wish I had finished. You know how you can keep up with the plot in your dreams because your own brain is making it up, well my brain totally threw a curve ball at me, because I couldn't seem to handle it at all. All in all, I think its important for us to realize that we don't know when we're going to die, and most likely, its not going to be at a convenient time; they're are going to be things you wish you had done. So, whatever it is that you want to accomplish before you die, go out and do it.

Eleven- Archibald MacLeish

And summer mornings, the mute child, rebellious,

Stupid, hating the words, the meaning, hating

The Think now, Think, the Oh but Think!

On tiptoe the three chairs on the verandah

And crossing tree by tree the empty lawn

Push back the shed door and upon the sill

Stand pressing out the sunlight from his eyes

And enter and with outstretched fingers feel

The grindstone and behind it the bare wall

And turn and in the corner on the cool

Hard earth sit listening. And one by one,

Out of the dazzled shadow in the room

The shapes would gather, the brown plowshare, spades,

Mattocks, the polished helves of picks, a scythe

Hung from the rafters, shovels, slender tines

Glinting across the curve of sickles--shapes

Older than men were, the wise tools, the iron

Friendly with earth, And sit there, quiet, breathing

The harsh dry smell of withered bulbs, the faint

Odor of dung, the silence. And outside

Beyond the half-shut door the blind leaves

And the corn moving. And at noon would come,

Up from the garden, his hard crooked hands

Gentle with earth, his knees still earth-stained, smelling

Of sun, of summer, the old gardener, like

A priest, like an interpreter, and bend

Over his baskets.

And they would not speak:

They would say nothing. And the child would sit there

Happy as though he had no name, as though

Like a root growing---

Are Beards Weird?

I'm not sure if it's because I've become an adult recently and have a newfound respect for symbols of maturity, but I think I really appreciate men with facial hair. It used to be the ultimate demonstration of manliness; if you had a beautiful mustache and a wiry beard, you had respect among your fellow men. We seem to be all about the mane these days, which is equally important, but I just want to commend all of you fellows who are struggling with the desire to break out and let your manliness flourish. The truth is-you do look older, wiser, and more distinguished. It can hide double chins and accentuate chiseled jawlines. It can be the perfect accessory to complete your rugged, lumberjack style. It could bring out your gorgeous, deep eyes. It could set you apart from all the other guys; it may keep some girls away, but your a real man, and you need a real woman in your life to appreciate your manliness, right? One warning, however, is if your facial hair isn't quite at the point where its thick enough to showcase, don't chance it. Men with more experienced, fuller beards may make fun of you. If you keep working on it, and it is your passion to have the ultimate facial hair, you one day could be the supreme depiction of manliness. Like this man in Hastings, his beard was one I just couldn't ignore. Food for thought.

Gifts of Inspiration

Nature can be one of God's greatest gifts of inspiration to man. Men would gaze upon the enormous trees of Lebanon and find great inspiration for construction of monuments and buildings that would achieve equal height and status. Or poets, whose introverted minds would ponder the beauty of wild gardens, endlessly rapt, would therefore produce some of the most profound pieces of literature people try to emulate today. And the musicians; how many men would see some trinket of beauty in that expansive treasure chest we call nature and produce some melody and song worthy of angels ears? So, in Hastings, England- I came across this gorgeous tree, tangled at the roots with a vine who slowly tried to suck out its nutrients- and I thought to myself, what men have you inspired? Perhaps my mind will gravitate towards that memory of this tree, and produce something worthy of its inspiration; or, perhaps not. The point is, if its a beautiful day, and you feel like being inspired, using whatever medium you are best in, go out and spend a little time with nature.

Stepping in Puddles, I Come to This -Me

Oh to cry when I look at you!

I rejoice in the components of

A personality thriving, and drink

Into the life of a life well lived.

Beauty costs nothing but is well

Spent on the depths of a tangled soul-

Unkept, dazzling in innocent

Intoxication, Breathe out.

Adjust a tie, slip on a pump heel-

Tis' fascinating how civility covers

The wild and raw, intending to enhance

Art and showcase the life but only

Succeeds in providing contradiction to

The inner breath. Not the primal beat that

Controls physical drive, but the

Lustrous illumination of meaning in a

Complex soul.

Precious are the times we share;

Time as a quantity of brief intimacy.

Golden eras of my life are built up in

Moments of discovering true love,

True hearts, unparalleled ribbons of

Wholesome truth woven into the

Pattern of my existence.

It is partly because of you but mostly

Is the result of what is grander than us.

The revelation, is this.

As I paint my body and my clothes

With droplets falling from the clouds,

Capturing light, I wish to stride and dance-

Breaking out in unbridled motion

As my head fills with musical thoughts

And my heart opens its floodgates.

To understand that I'm not meant to

Understand, to love with feelings

Unnatural to the soil of our foundation,

To escape into a place, gazing and soaking,

Where life flows free because of abounding truth...

And my thoughts come back to you because

You're so much a part of this,

You are so beautiful,

It makes me want to cry.

Sam Llewellyn

Lyonesse is a fictional book trilogy modeling the traditional story of King Arthur and Camelot but with a very imaginative twist, and a beautiful setting of an older world with sinking ground and dense topography. This book series has become very close to my heart, and with the characters like Idris Limpet and Fisheagle, the journey into this fantastic world attaches to one's mind and grows into a story as adventuresome as life itself. As a tribute to finishing the book, I decided to write this little advertisement for all of you to read it, or at least something of equal fictitious wonder.