Question #5

thegetupkid69 asks: "Would you share your top 5 albums of all time with us and what makes them special? (You can do less of course if 5 is too much work)"


First off let me warn everyone, I was exposed to music MUCH later in life. My family wasn't very musical and my sister didn't really share any music with me growing up. So I didn't really listen to music (aside from dancing to it. Hence "La Bouche" holds a special place in my jazz dancing heart) as a hobby until 8th grade (and for those of you counting that was around '96 for me).

In 8th grade I became best friends with basis/Robert and it was through him my love of music was born. Except he wasn't listening to what was on the radio at the time. He was into this crazy genre called "Electronic Music." However, from the listing, you will see that it's not all Electronic Bands. I have a crazy eclectic musical ear that doesn't really have many genre's it can't handle.

Anyways, I just wanted to start out with that explaination because the Top 5 albums in my head are NOT the typical "Beatles, Smiths, Cure, Bowie" list a lot of people have. I just was never introduced to them so they don't hold any nostalgia for me.

TOP 5 Albums for me:

Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation
I saw the music video for Firestarter off "Fat of the Land" and something about their sound, and Keith's look really captured me. I am a huge Prodigy fan and LOVE 95% of their stuff. But Music for the Jilted Generation (especially Break & Enter, Voodoo People, Poison, and One Love) was the first Album I fell in love with that no one else around me really heard of (besides basis of course).

Alanis Morrisette - Jagged Little Pill
I can STILL listen to this album on repeat and sing every word. I found this CD on the ground outside of my school and it was in good condition so I popped it into my CD Player and really really loved every song and just the overall composition of the album. I'm not really a fan of her later work, just this album.

The Cranberries - No Need To Argue
Another album I love as a whole. Something about how this album makes me feel is very comforting and serene, which is weird because the lyrics are SUPER sad. No Need To Argue was given to me by my sister's best friend at the time to borrow because I kept asking her to play the zombie song over and over. One of my FIRST musical experiences that didn't revolve around hearing music playing at the dance studio.


The Weepies - Happiness
SUCH a short debut album, the kind where you wish it would just go on and on. I made a post about discovering The Weepies from (sadly) hearing them on a JCpenny's commercial a little while back. They have 2 albums out but this one is the one that hooked me. The harmonies are incredible, as well as the writing. Lately I've become the Pied Piper with this album, trying to get as many people to give it a try as possible.


The Postal Service - Give Up
In college I was handed a burnt CD that said POSTAL SERVICE on it. I can't remember for the life of me who gave it to me, but it sat on my desk for a week or so. This was before all the art school hipsters got their hands on it, I remember this because SO MANY GOOD BANDS were ruined by over exposure during college.
I had heard the name Death Cab for Cutie, but never heard their music. It was the first time I remember hearing SynthPop electronic music with amazing lyrics and incredible vocals. I'm a sucker for nice voices. Voices that make singing sound easy. I ended up doing a Faux Music video for "Nothing Better" for a motion graphics assignment.



This list is very personal, and may not include Classics, or YOUR favorite Albums, and you may HATE all my choices, but they are mine. So :p

I am ALWAYS up for discovering new music and musical suggestions. And Yes, I KNOW I'm a DJ, but that doesn't mean I have to be a musical encyclopedia. I can rock your booty on the dance floor and not have listened to the cure when I was younger.



------------------------------------------------------
ASK ME A QUESTION HERE SINCE IT'S MARCH!!!

Question #7

letsstealatank asks: "how do you deal with someone making a pass at your significant other? i'm not dating anyone, but there have been times when i have and i get incredibly worked up. you?"

First off, jealousy is the one of the WORST poisons you can have in a relationship. Jealousy = distrust. And if you can't trust your hubbie then why even be with them?

Now I know Phil is Hot. Hence why for 6 months I referred to him as "Hot Phil." And (unlike what he claims) he gets LOADS of headturnage. Which I am allllll for. Why?

Because he deserves it.

It boosts his self-esteem.

It makes me feel proud because he is so totally a catch and he chose me!


Phil and I have the kind of relationship where everything is on the table. It's not closed, however it isn't open either. Right now we are all each other wants. Nothing set in stone, but we're quite satisfied with what each other brings to the table.
We are honest, and communicate.
We can talk about hot guys and not feel like it's moments before the other one leaves for someone else.


My advice:

RELAX.

People have eyes, and they have dicks, and they are gonna do what they want with either of them. It's beyond your control. Turn the situation into something positive. Talk about your concerns, or how he chooses to handle the situation so you are both comfortable. And TRUST HIM. Even if you've had your heart broken previously.* Everyone deserves that.


*Now I am not saying to love blindly and not trust your gut or your heart, but petty jealousy doesn't come from the gut/heart, it comes from somewhere much more unstable....


..the brain.


------------------------------------------------------
ASK ME A QUESTION HERE SINCE IT'S MARCH!!!

Question #6

low_fat_muffin asks: "as you know I'm sort of a thoreau/emerson junky. Is there a American writer or author that you get excited to read? if so - who and why? and if not - do you have any authors that do?"


I am not a very well read individual. I LOVE READING, don't get me wrong. But I never got into that notion of being "Forced to Read ____ for an assignment." All the authors/books I have read aren't the typical collegiate sort.

I HATE when people say "I hate reading" or "I don't read." Not much can make someone sound more like a dumbass.
But I fear this list is going to make me sound stupid.
I rarely get time to read, but when I do, I usually do it to make me feel better, or find books and authors that I KNOW I will like.

So I am going to just list a few books that have stuck out that I have enjoyed over the years.

Youth in Revolt - by C.D. Payne
Written like a diary, Youth in Revolt is the kind of book that takes FOREVER to read, only because you find yourself laughing hysterically, and re-reading paragraphs over and over again because of how brilliantly they are worded. The point of view is from a young awkward teen who is LIGHT YEARS smarter than he should be for his age, however in turn has ZERO common sense and gets into the worst situations.
I read this in college through the prodding of nobora and am SO GLAD I DID!!!

The Long Walk - by Richard Bauchman/Stephen King
I have read this book a total of 9 times. Why? I'm not sure. I had "The Bauchman Books" (the collection of books that Stephen King did under his pen name Richard Bauchman before he got famous) and it just grabbed me and never let go. I read it over and over.
It is about this contest called The Long Walk where boys of a certain age group enter to be one of the 100 chosen. It is basically suicide for 99 of them, since the rules are you have to out walk everyone to be the winner. If you go below a certain speed you get a warning, after 3 warnings you get shot in the head.
It is a very grim story, but it touches on amazing concepts like how people bond through tragic times, knowing you are going to have to watch 99 people die, battling between wanting others to die for your benefit and the moral struggle that presents. It is a wonderful psychological mind trip that I HIGHLY recommend.

J-Pod - by Douglas Coupland
Lent to me by telecommunicate, I highly enjoyed this book. Hilarious, nerdy, and really fun. Video Game Developers and all that is ridiculous, weird, and quirky about them, told through a narrative that goes all over the place.


I have more but I think those will suffice.


------------------------------------------------------
ASK ME A QUESTION HERE SINCE IT'S MARCH!!!