Friday, September 25, 2009
A Trip To The Asylum
There's always a very distinctive sound with BritRock bands, and I've always quite fancied the quirks and witty tunes they churn out.
Which shames me to say that even though I've heard of Kasabian, I didnt really follow through and give them much thought until I saw them perform live at MTV Worldstage Malaysia recently.
Where they totally. Blew. Me. Away.
So what better way to make up for my huggeeeee mistake than by going through their latest album "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum" (WRPLA) and digesting every bit of deliciousness that is Kasabian! The cd has been on a loop in my car for about 2 weeks already, and its friggin' awesome.
FYI, there is a mental institution called West Riding Pauper Lunatic Asylum in England and the band decided to base the album on it after it struck a chord with them when they watched it in a TV documentary. Deep.
This album cover apparently depicts the band all dressed up for a party at the asylum. Okaaaaayyyy...
The album is like the soundtrack to an unknown movie in our heads. And its one movie that's got a whole spectrum of genres and emotions in it.
The first track "Underdog" kicks off the album on a huge soaring note and is a great energetic song, with the riffs really getting stuck in my head after awhile. There's a slight aloof swagger in Tom Meighan's voice and the little synths here and there make this a great intro to the album.
I've already found one of my favourite songs in the album with the second track, "Where Did All the Love Go?", with its oddly placed (but perfectly matched) middle east influences and the dragged out backup vocals in the chorus. Man, this song sounds kinda like how you'd sing something after you've had a pint or two =X
"Swarfiga" is a short filler instrumental song that is half floating along in space and half acid trip. I didnt know what to think.
Another song that will grab you by the ears and not let go would be "Fast Fuse"! Almost fooled by the blues-y intro that it would be a slow song, it caught me by surprise by jumping straight into a chaotic mess with a hint of urgency! This is definitely for the nail-biting car-chase scene in any movie! And I love the thump-thumping first chorus (i can imagine a concert crowd going wild with this) which I keep repeating to myself.
"Take Aim" is a song straight out of a Quentin Tarantino movie with it starting really slow and quiet with teasing vocals (are those sirens i hear?), then gradually building up to a song that will have your head swaying with the chorus. There is a fab middle eastern-ish horns and strings arrangement throughout the song and towards the end for a perfect hypnotic touch.
If ever there was a song playing in the background of a Charles Dickens story, it would be "Thick as Thieves". Its got a great melancholic tune which makes you think of sneaking down dark back alleys to plot naughty things and the twanging (i dont know how else to describe it) guitars add a dejected feel to the song. Very familiar melody too. But it does have a great moment with the grand la-la-la's towards the end =P
By far the creepiest song on the album (and very fitting with the album concept) is "West Ryder Silver Bullet". Really, you have to listen to this song on full blast to appreciate the complexity of it. The constant creeping and marching tone with haunting chiming (xylophone? haha) and a distant choir that builds up, just barely keeps you on the edge of an audio high wtf. The vocals which feature a duet with Rosario Dawson is absolutely mesmerising, especially at the end of the chorus.
Yes, her.
The line "She's my baby/He's my baby" gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it. Ok, this song can get abit depressing after awhile and makes me feel abit jumpy everytime I listen to it. I dont know why I cant stop listening to it 0_____0
Thankfully, the next song "Vlad the Impaler" will snap you right out of any depressing stupor you might be in! Its angry, rebellion-fueled with very distorted guitars and a great thumping beat that will make this song an anthem at any concert methinks. The chorus of "Get loose, get loose" has all the makings of a great mosh-pit moment.
"Secret Alphabets" is a little bass-y, a little synth-ish and a little neither here nor there. Not high on my list of favourites, it does have a dramatically orchesta-laden ending which would be great in a tragic movie.
One of my major faves of the album would be "Fire". This track is like listening to several different songs at once as it switches effortlessly between highs and lows! It starts off slowly and plods along with a creeping tone, before exploding into a big chorus with great whistling whoo's (goodness, my elaboration skills leave much to be desired) that always has me humming along as well. And the secondary chorus layered in makes you think you're hearing things. Love it.
There are 2 slower songs in WRPLA which are "Ladies and Gentlemen (Roll the Dice)" and "Happiness". They're great because they're the mellow side of Kasabian. "Ladies and Gentlemen" is actually quite a sad ballad with its grand organ lilt and rather dejected lyrics and vocals. It sounds like a song to give up on, but please dont haha.
I love love love "Happiness" which is the best song to end the album with! Its absolutely inspirational with a chilled-out feel to it and really uplifting to the soul as it slowly builds up. Having a full gospel choir to back up this song just completes it perfectly and you'll probably clap along with it towards the end too =)
Clearly, I'm a fan of almost every song on the album. Kasabian's got their psychadelic rock act down to a science. Transition between each song is nicely done and there isnt a disconnected feeling with some tracks like you get with most other albums. Listen to this album again and again and you'll see each track in a different light each time. Its all so distinctive, slightly haunting and the tunes blend seamlessly with one another which will have you wondering which song is which when you start hearing them in your head days after.
I guess that's what happens when you pay a visit to the West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Two Two
My 22nd surprise (really really) birthday lunch, in pictures! =)
Surprise guests: David (now i know the reason he refused to let me organise a birthday dinner with my friends!), Kel Li, Nigel, Joshua, Yatz, Aaron, Kenneth, Mitchelle, Alex.
Location: delicious @ Marc, KL
Thank you thank you thank you!!!! =D
Much love, you guys! <3
Plus, my very own special birthday video by Joshua!
20.09.2009 really was a good day out =)
*pics by Nigel, Joshua*
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday Brings..
Loved my Wednesday!
Not enough soft-shell crab, too much Teriyaki chicken, sweet Sukiyaki soup from a steaming iron pot and Mandarin & Mango gelato with brain-freeze topping for afters.
With surprises that come in faux monogrammed wrapping paper, insanely cellophane-taped boxes and an ignored purple ribbon.
Something new to carry around everyday now! =)
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Friday, September 11, 2009
Now I Know The Truth
Last Tuesday was a special screening of "The Ugly Truth", where Nigel, David, Kel Li, Joshua, Yatz and I got to give out some tickets to some really lucky and pretty fast people (mine here) thanks to Sony Pictures!
Before the movie started, those who could make it grabbed a bite together at a kopitiam for some gossip, bonding and lots of camwhoring.
The cool table *scoffs* hahhaha =P
Most of the bunch.
What's different about this screening is that this time, I'm the one behind the counter with the name-list and pen. In other words, POWER!!! *cue maniacal laughter*
Taking over the world, one ticket counter at a time.
Ok, so it was pretty fun seeing the bloggers come up one by one to collect their tickets and seeing who's who before the movie started.
Jason!! He can never make time to come out for a drink, but give him a free movie and he's there With a new lady-friend, I might add! =P
Partial group picture! Everyone else were too scattered/busy doing important jobs like manning ticket counters *coughs*
My new partners in profitable crime! ;)
Surprisingly, alot of people were on time to collect their tickets! So proud of our bunch, really. We thought we'd be stuck waiting for a couple of late-comers, but nope, it was all good!
Which meant there was more time left for..
Clicks.
And more clicks!
There was a huge crowd at the cinema entrance, because I think there were a few simultaneous screenings of the movie, so it was utter chaos! But we managed to squeeze in after the mayhem died down, and with pretty good seats too!
The movie was pretty entertaining, as romantic-comedies go. Its always fun when they're pitching men against women, i.e. creatures with one thing in mind vs. control freaks who overthink things.
One of the funnier scenes in the movie.
It'd have been great if Gerard Butler didnt have an American accent in this movie, but he played the role of obnoxious male chauvinist, Mike Chadway, as lovable as possible! And Katherine Heigl seems to be playing alot of uptight-ish roles doesnt she?
The movie didnt exactly break any new ground in rom-com territory, but its light, fun, great for a laugh and with enough dirty jokes to make it an easy night at the movies.
Though I really hope that not all guys are like the ones in the movies ;)
2 comments
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Book Me For Being A Fan
I am secretly a nerd at heart. There, I've said it.
A few months ago, buying books regularly became a thing of the past for me when things started spiralling out of control with crazy book prices and all. I became confined to digging through dusty piles of unwanted books with obscure titles and irrelevant topics at book warehouse sales.
Then I discovered BookXcess whilst on a random jaunt to Amcorp Mall, and its really one of the happiest places on Earth. I've been going there regularly now for my fix of affordable books (they dont have the widest range of titles, but I'm really more of a price-tag person. i will adapt!), and now they've hopped on the social media bandwagon and started a blog!
The BookXcess blog is really a great extension of the store itself, and I love that its not purely a promotional tool filled with offers, deals and discounts all for the sake of sell, sell, sell.
In fact, BookXcess blog does things that a great bookstore would love to do, but cant! Its got great staff involvement by getting BookXcess staff to contribute their 2-cents in regular book reviews (really tempted to buy one of the books reviewed here) that allows us to pick their brains a little. There's always a random question/trivia at the end of each review with the cutest answers like:
Q: "What’s the temperature set on the air conditioner in your room?"
A: I can’t sleep in the cold! The air conditioner is set at 25 degrees Celsius and I would only turn it on for the first half an hour.!
Hahahahah my dad only lets me turn on the aircond for 2 hours at the most too T__T
They also update readers on latest book shipments, which is fab if I wanna know what's new at the store.
There's also bookporn in the form of random blog posts such as one of their latest ones about amazing bookstores around the world! Really, our bookstores are not a patch on those -___-" The blog also of course does its job as a marketing tool with regular recommendations of books to read, like the list they came up with for the school holidays here. I have *coughs* 2 books from that list that I bought from BookXcess awhile ago, and they've been great reads and re-reads so far (dont laugh! children's books are terribly fun to read ok).
What gets me excited about Bookxcess Blog is also their regular Blog Bonanza contests and giveaways (of course)! They're pretty generous with the stuff they give away, which range from book vouchers to books! Yum yum I love it when prizes for contests are precisely what I crave for the most.
Well, I check the blog religiously everyday now and there's always something interesting to read, and all their posts have a very personal touch to it somehow. I think its a blog and a bookstore run by people who actually do make use of and love the things they sell.
Now go be their fan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter (@bookxcess). Oh yea, and do drop by their store. There really are some amazing gems there at half the price (mad prices, really) of what you'd find at normal bookstores.
I bought almost my entire series of "The Wardstone Chronicles" from BookXcess at a steal (which helped me complete my collection faster hahaha) and an awesome book that I'm really relieved my measure of good literature approves of.
Need to pay them a visit soon. Its been too long! Gotta swipe my membership card a little bit more often too (yes, they have a membership programme)! Got discounts ok hehehhhhhh..
BookXcess
L3-57 Amcorp Mall,
18, Jalan PSN Barat
46050 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor D. E.
Malaysia.
Tel: +603-7956 0455
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This week is going by far too fast! The list keeps growing longer, but defies the law of nature by not getting any shorter. Sigh.
Who'd have thunk.
Hahah this is quite fun. Evidently, I've just discovered how to use the webcam function on the laptop and am exercising my right as a first-class jakun.
Ed Hardy wannabe tank top from lovely Phuket and a military-inspired vest that belongs to someone at home, though I'm not quite sure who. It was just hanging there.
Taking a KitKat break.. Now!
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Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Death Star
My internal calendar is very confused with the long weekend (Monday holiday)!
Internal calendar confusion leads to pattern-clashing on a Wednesday in Tuesday's disguise.
Skulls and stars. Yum..
Even juicier when I think about how much my entire outfit costs.
About a double cheesburger, Coke and fries.
Haih.. Repeating the confusion with the coming long weekend (again). Yay!
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Tuesday, September 01, 2009
"The Ugly Truth" Premiere Screening
I've been watching a ton of movies lately, and there's nothing I like better than getting a freebie! Yes, I love my free swag and with a new movie coming up, looks like I'll be able to share the movie-joy with everyone else! Plus, its a romantic-comedy, which is always a plus in the mood-meter =D
Sounds like a Mars vs. Venus flick! The generous folk over at Sony Pictures have given me 4 pairs of exclusive Premier Screening passes (that's 8 tickets!) to give out to the person reading this right.. NOW!
The first 4 people to leave a comment with your name and email address in my little comments box at the end of this post gets a pair of tickets each to catch the Premier Screening of "The Ugly Truth"!
Screening details:
8th September 2009
9.30pm
Cathay Cineplex Damansara, e @ Curve (formerly Cineleisure)
Dont know about you, but Gerard Butler sealed the deal for me with this one ;)
The speediest commenters will receive an email for attendance confirmation (just in case you can't make it) really soon, before getting the invitation email.
If you didnt make it as the first 4, check out the other blogs mentioned in the movie poster coz they've got passes to give away as well!
P.S. Comments for this closes on 4th September, so hop to it! Get your friends to comment too and get a movie-night out for some weekday happiness =D
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