A dedication.
It's been a roller coaster last couple of weeks, years even. I've been through a lot, but more importantly it's all about the people I've been through it with. My family, friends, fiancee...but to someone who went through more, and is now free. R.I.P. to my cousin Phillipe*. I'm grateful that I was one of your people, if only through blood, but thankfully through years.
And to all of us surviving and still living on earth--including you reading this now. Don't compromise your life. Live it. And thank you for being...with me. Let's keep going.
*More on Phil by Terri DeLima (via online obituary guestbook), who worked with him: "....Phil was a great guy to work with, hardworking, very smart.
He contributed major accomplishments to the Artificial Retina project which is helping blind people regain sight. Take pride in the fact that what he has accomplished with his life in such a short time will be helping a lot of people in the dark see light(.)
I'm a firm believer that from bad experiences something good is born from them. Look for the good(;) you may not see it now, but you will.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
My thoughts on this year's NBA finals matchup.
Boston and L.A. again?
*yawn*
Wake me when the draft starts.
(I'm still getting my feet wet, so you might want to stay away from this blog for awhile if you want something more substantial.)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Getting my feet wet again.
Hello again blogspot. I'm home.
With that out of the way...
Iron Man 2 was a nice set-up movie. The Avengers needs to knock it out of the park. Edward Norton, please step on deck...
Robert Downey Jr.: take it easy for now. We'll need you for the playoffs.
(There's a metaphor that needs fixing up there somewhere, I know. Anyway, it's blockbuster season again. Let's see if I have more worth saying before it ends again.)
(It's good to be home.)
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Moving my reviews, sort of.
So, I've decided to re-activate my facebook account, and I've decided to just put up new movie/music/etc. reviews in to one of my status feeds as new comments. Granted, the medium sort of dictates that the reviews will probably be shorter than my blog entries here, but maybe I'll put longer rants here when needed. Til' then, here's the feed link, with blurbs on Rounders, The Great Buck Howard, and a little more written for 9 and The Blueprint 3.
More likely to come.
More likely to come.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Once again back is the incredible...
No, I'm not talking about myself, but thanks anyway, yeah?
I am talking about "The Legendary".
I know, they're not making a comeback, because they didn't go away a long time. But in a way they did. One could argue The Roots descended into darkness with their last two albums, Game Theory and Rising Down; not the most fun-loving albums those were.
But a glimmer of light shines through with this new track, which debuted not too long ago on Late Night (Jimmy Fallon's show, which I blogged about here).
I say glimmer because it's not all sunshine and jumping jacks, but it's a more optimistically nuanced track that leaves the evil synths of Rising Down behind for the time being.
---
It's still blockbuster season, and I'm still involved. I have to say that The Taking of Pelham One Two Three was better than the version that came out this year, which was differed in title by using the numerals "1 2 3". The differences don't end there though, as the respective tones of each film couldn't be any more unrelated. Walter Matthau wins (But Denzel Washington is still the man).
Up was fun and touching. Not perfect though. I'm still not sure how I feel about "talking" dogs.
I'm sure I saw other movies too, but I really just wanted to say that I hopped back on to the Harry Potter express, after missing the last one (the only one I haven't seen), and I'm glad I did. Half-Blood Prince was very entertaining, but pretty much all just set up for the climatic two-parter The Deathly Hallows. Consider me hyped.
---
Hey Stockton folks, I just started going to a young adult group weekly meeting for Catholics (but non-Catholics are welcome). Really nice folk, and learning about faith in a (young) adult setting is great and something pretty much new to me. I've been in a young adult group that fizzled out shortly after it began, but this particular group has been around years now, so I could potentially be in for the long haul (or at least until I'm 39, which is what their website says is the cutoff). In any case, check out their site, lukefive.org and maybe see me there on Tuesday nights and hang out. They don't bite.
I am talking about "The Legendary".
I know, they're not making a comeback, because they didn't go away a long time. But in a way they did. One could argue The Roots descended into darkness with their last two albums, Game Theory and Rising Down; not the most fun-loving albums those were.
But a glimmer of light shines through with this new track, which debuted not too long ago on Late Night (Jimmy Fallon's show, which I blogged about here).
I say glimmer because it's not all sunshine and jumping jacks, but it's a more optimistically nuanced track that leaves the evil synths of Rising Down behind for the time being.
---
It's still blockbuster season, and I'm still involved. I have to say that The Taking of Pelham One Two Three was better than the version that came out this year, which was differed in title by using the numerals "1 2 3". The differences don't end there though, as the respective tones of each film couldn't be any more unrelated. Walter Matthau wins (But Denzel Washington is still the man).
Up was fun and touching. Not perfect though. I'm still not sure how I feel about "talking" dogs.
I'm sure I saw other movies too, but I really just wanted to say that I hopped back on to the Harry Potter express, after missing the last one (the only one I haven't seen), and I'm glad I did. Half-Blood Prince was very entertaining, but pretty much all just set up for the climatic two-parter The Deathly Hallows. Consider me hyped.
---
Hey Stockton folks, I just started going to a young adult group weekly meeting for Catholics (but non-Catholics are welcome). Really nice folk, and learning about faith in a (young) adult setting is great and something pretty much new to me. I've been in a young adult group that fizzled out shortly after it began, but this particular group has been around years now, so I could potentially be in for the long haul (or at least until I'm 39, which is what their website says is the cutoff). In any case, check out their site, lukefive.org and maybe see me there on Tuesday nights and hang out. They don't bite.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
A Review of CunninLynguists' Strange Journey Volume One
The following is my not so quite track-by-track review of the rap group CunninLynguists' mixtape, Strange Journey Volume One:
Departure (Intro)
After hearing this unoriginal, smug, and fake sounding introduction, I'm not looking forward to the rest of the CD.
2. Nothing But Strangeness (Featuring Looptroop Rockers & Hilltop Hoods)
The beat starts off promising. Then some bells come in, and the track just reminds me of the superiority of Pete Rock's beats in his heyday. I'm bored and the vileness of the lyrical content doesn't help. The nice vocal sampling that started the track and hinted at the it's potential comes back for the hook. Among the rest of the production, the sample is rendered unappealing.
3. Lynguistics (Live In Stockholm)
It sounds like the live vocals were blended in with a studio-built master track. It sounds weird on first listen, the way "The Food" on the finished version of Common's Be did.
Eventually "Lynguists" builds to a perfect ending, with the studio track dropping out to shine on the sound of the live audience cheering.
4. Move
This one is decent. Strong production combined with charismatic rhyme delivery make for the best all around track in this collection.
5. Spark My Soul (Featuring Substantial)
The first MC to rhyme doesn't have a voice that lends him any business to continue his rapping career without lots of work stepping up his skills, which aren't bad. After the second MC comes in, I decide that I don't want to listen to the rest of Strange Journey Volume One.
Only the beginning of track 11, "Georgia (Remix) [Feat. Killer Mike & Khujo Goodie]," up to the beginning of the second verse sound good enough to where I'll listen again. From there it's back to the album's business as usual. And business is not too good.
Fortunately, this isn't an official album. There is lots of room for CunninLynguists' to grow before Volume Two drops. That should help with the expansion of ideas and the tightening up of skills in all aspects, from production to vocal delivery. In short, if this rap group sticks to the formulas that worked on the minimal amount in this volume, they could end up making something I'll listen to from beginning to end while hoping for more.
Departure (Intro)
After hearing this unoriginal, smug, and fake sounding introduction, I'm not looking forward to the rest of the CD.
2. Nothing But Strangeness (Featuring Looptroop Rockers & Hilltop Hoods)
The beat starts off promising. Then some bells come in, and the track just reminds me of the superiority of Pete Rock's beats in his heyday. I'm bored and the vileness of the lyrical content doesn't help. The nice vocal sampling that started the track and hinted at the it's potential comes back for the hook. Among the rest of the production, the sample is rendered unappealing.
3. Lynguistics (Live In Stockholm)
It sounds like the live vocals were blended in with a studio-built master track. It sounds weird on first listen, the way "The Food" on the finished version of Common's Be did.
Eventually "Lynguists" builds to a perfect ending, with the studio track dropping out to shine on the sound of the live audience cheering.
4. Move
This one is decent. Strong production combined with charismatic rhyme delivery make for the best all around track in this collection.
5. Spark My Soul (Featuring Substantial)
The first MC to rhyme doesn't have a voice that lends him any business to continue his rapping career without lots of work stepping up his skills, which aren't bad. After the second MC comes in, I decide that I don't want to listen to the rest of Strange Journey Volume One.
Only the beginning of track 11, "Georgia (Remix) [Feat. Killer Mike & Khujo Goodie]," up to the beginning of the second verse sound good enough to where I'll listen again. From there it's back to the album's business as usual. And business is not too good.
Fortunately, this isn't an official album. There is lots of room for CunninLynguists' to grow before Volume Two drops. That should help with the expansion of ideas and the tightening up of skills in all aspects, from production to vocal delivery. In short, if this rap group sticks to the formulas that worked on the minimal amount in this volume, they could end up making something I'll listen to from beginning to end while hoping for more.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Please Help Free Ezra Nawi
More info here and here. I'm just referring you to those sites without saying much else because I'm tired and still haven't been to bed for the night (and it's been daylight out a couple hours now). Hopefully I'll be doing a full post soon, since I've seen a couple more flicks like Up and the original The Taking Of Pelham One Two Three. Plus I have a full music album to review here. 'Til then, sit tight (not literally of course).
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