As I have been exploring the reason behind why people consider grizzly bears new album good I was challenged to listen to a few artists that were apparently "influential" in their sound, including.
philip glass, john cage, steve reich, terry riley
At the moment I am experiencing Steve Reich, fucking Genius. JOHN CAGE HOWEVER IS INSANE. Phillip Glass on the other hand, also makes good music, and while I can see where John Cage got his influence from, being in the Zen movement and Eastern Compositions myself, I still, have yet to believe that Grizzly Bear made a good album.
Now Phillip Glass can't really be compared to the rest, as he has paired with many other artist and pulled away from the "minimalist" title. Being a naysayer of minimalists in General, it was no real wonder as to why I did not like Grizzly Bears new music, if THESE were some of their influences.
But to be as open minded as possible, I decided to look up each artists wikipedia stub and check them out. Grizzly Bear, opening on tour for TV on the Radio, and Radiohead, has really that to hold to their names. A good review in "Rolling Stones" magazine but we all know by now that we can't really trust anything the media says, and Grizzly Bear also has no prestigious award to their name. Given 3 albums already, to be dubbed "the greatest album" or "greatest band alive" is bull, pure and simple bull.
Now others will argue that art is what you take away from it, and they can obviously get more than I can from these composers and bands, however, I've liked, 2 of the 3 artists I listened to SO FAR. It will be until I return to Grizzly Bear, where I hope these composers did affect me in some way that I will be able to appreciate their music, perhaps I'll feel better about it. But I doubt it.
Arguably, Grizzly Bears album "Yellow House" had a song that kicked ass. The video has a fucking rock monster in it. So I'm not sure if it's just me, or everyone else. I have a pretty large variety in musical preference, though my number one at the moment is punk rock. I don't know, when things suck I'm pretty sure they suck.
I think it sucks ass. But others agree that it's one of the best album of all time. My question is, why? What makes it so good? Because I certainly can't hear it! Maybe someone can tell me.
What happened to the Market Crisis? Swine Flu? Billy Mays? Higher Education? The Job Market in America? Promises the President Made during his campaign? What happened to a lot of things I ask you.
What happened to you?
Michael Jackson's death was the best media sweater as far as pulling the wool over our eyes goes. I mean, they're still talking about it. Everything else you cared about was tossed aside placed in the giant "no one gives a fuck" or "Cover-Up" pile.
That's cool. Not like you care when your favorite celebrity dies.
If I was president, I'd ban tabloids, I think they're an invasion of privacy.
But seriously what happened to you? And all of your New Years Resolutions? Those concerts you used to go to or riots your grandparents and previous generations would proudly participate in, because they weren't afraid of the government.
What happened to me?
I used to blog here all the time, loved my job and thought I'd remain single forever, traveling the world as a top class Martial Arts master where my sole purpose in life was to experience things through the power of my fists.
I guess things change, priorities, jobs, interests, people, but that doesn't mean it should change so drastically that we lose sight of everything important to us. For me, those were pipe dreams. Now I'm in a long distance relationship that works, planning my future as an artist and buying some clothing that won't make me drag like a parachute when I begin running this summer.
I abandoned the "I'm strictly Hip Hop" 13 year old days of Southern Rappers and "Pimping" journeying halfway across the world to teach another country about Domestic Violence Prevention and how it can influence their state government.
What?
Yeah I don't believe it either, but I did it. Up there in my black Dress shirt and Khakis telling them "Yes, this definitely does work."
Laughter and applause, damn that was embarrassing.
But what have you done? What have you become? Any better? Any worse? Realized any dreams? Oppressed by any political powers? Why haven't you fought back yet? It's simple right? Grab some papers, grab some people, grab some signatures, sign some petitions, save some money, study a bit, do something with yourself. Hell, why are you reading this? Why am I writing this?
Well I'm bored and I'm checking out the Muse CD "Black Holes and Revelations" before I go back to teaching myself how to use InDesign CS4. Yeah, Teach MYSELF.
I was talking to a previous student earlier today about the internet and the many opportunities we have because of it, not to squander it, and make sure he gets a job next time he's kicked out of the house. He'll be entering the 9th grade in September. That's the same year I started fucking up. Hell, he's going to summer school for Math as well. But look, as long as you're young, and in America, nothing's going to stop you. But that rule can really be used anywhere Social Status doesn't dictate your future. Where the masses can protest with Extreme Prejudice just as much as the government, and scream the name of some absurd "freedom" for a few more years until we should rally for another cause in the name of "Justice" and "Equality."
If I were President, I'd run America like a Tyrant runs a kingdom, and hope that in the end everyone sees that what I was doing was something along the lines of the "Great Good."
Like Putting us on the FUCKING METRIC SYSTEM. SERIOUSLY, WILL SOMEONE DO THAT ALREADY!? WHAT THE FUCK!
Within the growing community of bloggers on xanga I am happening to notice some odd trends. The same bloggers being promoted and posted on/linked to.
It's as if they're starting some sort of cult movement. One that connects too clearly to a specific gender and race relation. Though I would argue that another day, I am against this new found sense of friendship.
It almost seems to me, super fake, and, indeed another way to draw attention to yourself by pseudo supplying attention to others. Once then, a "famous" person on xanga gets wind of it, and recommends it, it then becomes, for that persons blog, a hub of traffic, momentarily or for whatever amount of time the footprints continue to wreak havoc on their page, and even the sometimes even more mediocre blogs that they recommend themselves.
Not to say that this form of promotion is a bad thing, but lately it seems as if it's only done for ones on personal gain.
It doesn't seem Authentic. Primarily when I see bloggers who have had their fame and spotlight time and time again. But I feel I have said that already.
In all, I suppose I miss when I log into this xanga site, something new and interesting, but as I have been caught up between the battle of popularity and it's pervert love affair with communal philanthropy, I cannot find such things. Such things that were the quirks and personal opinions of people revolving around thier everyday lives. Instead I see refried garbage. Oh well.
In more ways than one at that. I don't understand why one would do it, and I do not understand why it's a big deal. Unless you're a big time writer, hope to be, or are paid (either money of a significant amount of attention) to, then sure, I can see why you'd be upset.
Let's address the first part that I do understand and please, bear in mind that you may not agree with my logic, in the least bit. What's the purpose, or point in stealing someone else's words? Or, in some opinions, their "life" and claiming it as your own. Besides the fact that your life may be so boring and mundane that there is nothing to blog about, should you not question why you have a blog in the first place? Is it the fact that you need and or desire attention so badly, that you would go and steal another's post, just to, I don't know, if it's not to spite them then I suppose it would be to call some attention to yourself. However if this person isn't, popular, isn't famous, isn't a significant point person in Real Life, or Web Society, why do it? Perhaps it's another form of idolization, an annoying one, but they do say something like "imitation is the most sincere flattery." Right? I don't know, today isn't a quote day.
And how about you, the one getting upset. Why? Are you so special or clung to your words and life that it physically hurts to see it taken and stripped from you? Or are you more concerned about some person that takes these words and becomes "famous" with what you wrote instead of yourself? If that happened, would you ever think of becoming a Ghost Writer? Or how about a script writer for plays and movies? Surely the writers don't get famous and photographed in all the Tabloid magazines, the actors and actresses do, I have yet to see them complain. I do know about Ghost Writers for rappers that complain. I am straying from the topic, I simply don't understand. Again, if you are some pivotal member of society where your writing is comparable to the Bible, then sure, I'd be pretty pissed to. However, if it really is just another scribbling story of your mundane life that a few people happen to read and appreciate, I wouldn't bother being too upset about it. What are you holding on to? Words and memories so deeply imbedded into your subconscious, that the only time you'll remember them is when you re-read these blogs? Hell, you should be thankful there are so many people making copies for you if you want it that badly!
I dare someone with more "Xangafame" than myself, to copy this, word for word, credit it as there own and then have all of their friends and subscribers reccomend the shit out of it. Or any of my posts for that matter. I don't know, maybe it's because I'm not as attached to the past and old ramblings I've written eons ago, that I don't feel the need to be as vigilant in the stop of plagerism of "life." Ya'know?
Perhaps you do, perhaps you don't, I'm in Germany, chilling, trying to get the taste of currywurst out of my mouth. Perhaps my life isn't interesting enough to be duplicated and claimed as someone elses. Well one less thing for me to worry about yeah? I suppose I'll never understand.
Another thing I don't understand, "Xanga Cards" they're tacky, and ugly. Who made them? Why didn't you model it after a Yu-Gi-Oh Card or something? At least those have attack and defense points, and also effects or a nice place to describe the person better. Seriously, stop with the xanga cards, they suck. Hardcore Maximum.
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