Question:

When is the last time you truly felt alive?

100 Followers

As it turns out, I recently hit one hundred followers. I would like to thank each and every one of you. I know it doesn't seem like much, but it means a lot to me that anyone would even go five seconds out of their way to hit the follow button. So, much love to you guys!

Also: let me know in the comments what albums/books/movies you would like to see reviewed in the future!

Stains on the Memory

The Cure: Disintegration

Track List:

01 - Plainsong

02 - Pictures of You

03 - Closedown

04 - Lovesong

05 - Last Dance

06 - Lullaby

07 - Fascination Street

08 - Prayers for Rain

09 - The Same Deep Water as You

10 - Disintegration

11 - Homesick

12 - Untitled

I recently received this album in vinyl format, and did not hesitate to throw it in my record player for one second. Few albums have come along that simply blow my mind.  Start to finish, Disintegration is a truly remarkable work of art.  While much of The Cure's other work seems rather poppy and sappy, in a way, Disintegration is nothing of the sort.  During the writing of this album, vocalist Robert Smith became the epitome of the depressed, drug-addled rockstar. Unable to cope with the band's recent popularity and success, along with the stark realization that his thirtieth birthday was nearly upon him, he set out to write what I believe to be is one of The Cure's deepest and darkest releases with intentions to make a work more enduring. A certain presence can be heard, and felt, throughout the entirety of the album. Heartache, addiction, loss of youth, emptiness-- the pure honesty and emotion in Disintegration is almost unmatched by anything else I have listened to over the years. It helped me through the roughest times in my life, and because of that, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Note: Not to be a hipster, but the brilliance really shines on the album's less popular tracks-- "Disintegration" and "Prayers for Rain" are personally my favorites. I highly recommend listening to them, if nothing else.

My Not-So-Awaited Return to Blogsville!

The past few months of my life have been hectic, to say the very least. Between my first semester of college, first job, writing and rehearsing with my band, preparing to move out, and all of life's other endless joys, I've seemed to have neglected a lot of things. Although blogging has never been a terribly high priority, it is something I do rather enjoy. Hence, I am staging my comeback as we (well, I) speak (well, type). Be on the lookout for some album reviews and stories in the near future, kiddos.

Stay golden.

Who Watches the Watchmen?

Watchmen: by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

"Following two generations of masked superheroes from the close of World War II to the icy shadow of the Cold War, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's monumental Watchmen is one of the most influential comics series of all time, and is now a national bestseller."

The first time I picked up Watchmen was done so rather unwillingly. Having just been assigned to read the graphic novel for my Modern Literature course, I had no choice other than to grit my teeth and bear with what I thought would be nothing but your typical cookie cutter good guys vs. bad guys bore. My preconceived notions of the comic book medium allowed me to readily dismiss reading it from being any sort of worthwhile endeavor.

Well, long story short, it only took 1 page, 7 panels, and 192 words to make me think otherwise.

Watchmen is set in an alternate history during the Cold War era. As tensions between the United States and Russia reach an all time high and the possibility of nuclear war becomes seemingly inevitable, the end of the world seems closer with each page you turn. The story centrals around several superheros, who, with the exception of a couple who've been allowed to work for the government, have been outlawed from crime fighting. In the first chapter we learn of the murder of Edward Blake. Rorschach, a costumed vigilante who works outside the law, discovers Blake to have been a fellow superhero, The Comedian. Due to his distrustful and cynical nature, he immediately suspects a conspiracy and sets out to warn the other retired costumed adventurers. He pays visits to Dan Dreiberg (Nite Owl), Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias), Dr. Manhattan, and Sally Juspeczyk (Silk Spectre), hoping to shed light on the matter. However, each visit yields no explanation. With so many questions left unanswered and with time running out, the novel becomes a hurried tale of "whodunit".

To say this novel changed my life is no overstatement. Nor to say it changed the way I think, either. Between Alan Moore's insightful nonlinear story telling and Dave Gibbons's striking illustrations, this graphic novel is fantastic cover-to-cover. I strongly recommend Watchmen to anyone who's willing to give it a chance, I promise you that it'll be one of the better choices you've made it your life.

The LP Adventures, Part I (b)

As I take a step into the store, the smell of must and history overwhelm me. I've always adored vinyls; each one has a story.  The records I ever so delicately pluck from the rows were once held many years ago by someone not too different from myself, someone just as eager to add it to their collection. My eyes gloss over every imperfection, my fingers run over the wear and tear. It all adds to its charm. It all adds to the art. Each time I leave, I find myself wishing not to abandon the countless vinyls that wait quietly and patiently for someone new to want them. I promise them all that someday it will be their turn, and walk away.

Anyway, here's what I came out with today:

Led Zeppelin I - Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin
Time Fades Away - Neil Young
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
Don't Say No - Billy Squier

Well worth the trip I believe. I only need a couple more Zeppelin vinyls, and I'll have their entire LP collection.

The LP Adventures, Part I (a)

I'm planning on making a stop at my local record store in a bit, I'm feeling pretty lucky. I'll post any noteworthy vinyls I stumble upon!