Bohemian Hearts - Que Quieres En La Vida?

maybe

2011-02-14T23:18:00.003-05:00

maybe the winter will last longer this year,
maybe spring is really just around the corner,
and the sun will start to shine longer,
maybe the winds will push the dark clouds away
revealing a clear blue sky.
and then, maybe not.
But it doesn't matter a bit to me
because you are here by my side.

Long, cold winter...

2011-02-04T18:03:00.001-05:00

Even the squirels in Boston Commons are feeling it, running up to you looking for a handout, as you walk through the park. Whatever sunlight is out there, it has started to stay with us a little longer each day - a promise that spring will come again or maybe fooling us thst this snowy winter will ever end, I cannot tell as yet...

blink

2010-05-09T12:55:00.001-04:00

i blinked for a moment and a year had passed
as if the spring air tossing your hair carelessly
in my mind was the same one i am now breathing.
i closed my eyes and wondered if i open them
will you still be here by my side?
and when i opened them again, everything had changed;
you were here, and you brought with you a gift
like no other gift i ever received. and my love for you
could not be contained in the confines of these words.

know where your towel is always...

2010-02-04T13:16:00.000-05:00

2009-06-25T21:39:00.002-04:00

Lovesong

When all the world seems far away
and just the 2 of us are left
I’ll sing to you these words all through
the night we'll fly in peace and I’ll
and I’ll be air the air that makes me
wanna dive into your skin
into your skin into the stars
into your breath and by your eyes

Into your skin, into the stars
into your breath and by your eyes….

Your pretty eyes I am divided
into fire and glass tonight
and when I whisper when I dance
and when I fall into your arms
it's not a kid it's not a man
it's just myself electric shock
is due to glances and to touches
underneath what seems to be
what seems to hold what seems to touch
what seems to breathe in a moment
and all these moments all the thrill
and all the light that you have brought

Oh God please make this moment last....

Into your skin, into the stars
into your breath and by your eyes….

And all this world, this magic world
that you have showed me is my light
of silence,tenderness,of glances
that contain so many needs
so many wishes, passion, love, desire
and silence is the sweetest thing on earth
and we are birds that fly away
and in our hugs I cannot say
your hand from my hand or your breath
from my breath let me be unsure
and ever I’m confused a sweet kiss
and a hug will make us birds
will give the world away
it's just ourselves that's left I’ll be desire
you'll be the passion we'll be two stars
in a spring more open sky

Into your skin, into the stars
into your breath and by your eyes….

Lovesong by Abbie Gale is one of those rare gems, a song in a tradition much like Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood ("Some Velvet Morning") or Bono and The Corrs ("Summer Wine"), except that the band envelops the tender playfulness between Evira and Vassilikos from Raining Pleasure in a wall of sound. The song comes from Abbie Gale's second CD, aptly called 2 which sees the band taking a new direction from their more acoustic first recording Family Life.

Check the video in the link at the top.

embers

2009-05-08T23:28:00.000-04:00

my love for you will last the rest of our days
a slow burning fire
and if that fire turns to embers
your gentle touch will revive the smoldering ashes
and I will love you even more

Growing Up In Greece

2009-04-11T14:20:00.007-04:00

Growing up in Greece during the colonels' years between 1967 and 1973, I got to experience counterculture at its best. From the reefer hippies backpacking through Europe sporting Canadian flags and avoiding the draft, to the packed streets of Plaka and Monastiraki before crass commercialism took over, to the emerging student movement and the subversive, underground art. One such example was to be found, of all places, then on EIRT (now ERT), one of the two TV stations in Greece at the time. It was a half-hour tragi-comedy reminiscent of Becket's "Waiting for Godot" called "Ekeinos kai Ekeinos" or loosely in English as "This One and that One". It followed the musings of two vagabonds, vagrants, street people, call them what you like, mostly farcical but surrealistic, existentialist conversations. Here's an example of Solon and Loukas while waiting for a bus next to a post with a faded sign:

-Σολων, δεν ειναι τοπιο αυτο για να περασουμε εδω ολη μας τη ζωη;
-Προσπαθω να θυμηθω γιατι ηρθαμε εδω. Τι μας εκανε και ηρθαμε εδω; Θυμασαι;
-Δικια σου ιδεα ητανε. Και, δεν ηρθαμε εδω. Καταληξαμε εδω.
-Ισως αν ξεραμε γιατι ηρθαμε εδω, να ξεραμε και το που παμε. Τον προορισμο μας τουλαχιστον,
-Σολων, αντι να ψαχνεις στην τσεπη σου για κανενα τσιγαρο ψαχνεις για τον προορισμο σου.

"Solon, isn't this the ideal place where we can spend the rest of our lives?"
"I am trying to remember why we came here. What made us come here? Do you remember?"
"It was your idea. And we didn't come here, we ended up here."
"Maybe if we knew why we came here, we would find out where we are going. Our destination at least."
"Solon, instead of searching for a cigarette in your pockets, you're searching for your destination?!"

....

The ghosts of my house / Τα φαντασματα του σπιτιου μου

2009-04-03T17:26:00.005-04:00

Τα φαντασματα του σπιτιου μου / The ghosts of my house

Μπηκα στο σπιτι μου το παλιο, και βρηκα σκονες και φαντασματα
μαζι μπλεγμενα σε ιστους απο αραχνες ξεχασμενες στο σκοταδι
Το παλιο τραπεζι στου δωματιου τη μεση κι' επανω του μικρα παιδια
σκυμμενα, αμελλα, ζουνε στο παρον
Κλειστα παντζουρια, κουρτινες κρεμασμενες με φροντιδα
ξεχασμενη κι' αυτη τεχνη μιας εποχης

Passing under the door of my old house, I found dust and ghosts
together caught in webs from spiders forgotten in the dark
the old table in the middle of the room, small children bending
over it, without a care living in the present.
Closed shutters, curtains hung with care,
another forgotten art in the past
...

Ανταρα / Tempest (a poem in two languages)

2009-02-23T15:40:00.011-05:00

Ανταρα
Η ασφαλτος της πολης με οδηγει μπροστα
και δεν μ' αφηνει πισω ποτε να κοιτω,
μα που και που η ματια την αντανακλαση ψαχνει
μιας ζωης που στη καρδια μου σφιχτα κρατω.

Δεν ειναι οτι θελω σε σενα να γυρισω ξανα,
απλα θυμαμαι εποχες που περασαν σε μια στιγμη,
μια ανασα της νιοτης που κρατησαμε σαν καναμε βουτια
στη θαλασσα και κατεβηκαμε στα βαθη της γρηγορα με οργη.

Ο ανοιξιατικος ηλιος εχει αρχισει να λιωνει τα χιονια,
η ανασα του ανεμου εχει ζεστανει λιγο κι' αυτη.
Kαθισμενος μπροστα στη πορτα περνανε τα χρονια,
μια εικονα ξεθωριασμενη μεσα μονο σε μια στιγμη.

Σηκωνομαι αργα, βαδιζω μουδιασμενα, σιωπηλα
σκεφτοντας τα παλια, το κεφαλι σκυφτο.
Mα σε λιγο το αιμα θα βρασει και ξανα με ανταρα
μεσα στην ασφαλτο της πολης θα χαθω.

....
Tempest
The asphalt streets of this city lead me ahead
and never let me look behind.
But once in a while a fleeting glance searches
for the reflection of a life tightly held in my heart.

It’s not that I want to return back to you,
simply that I recall seasons that passed in a moment,
Youth's breath held in as we prepared to plunge
In the ocean and with rage swiftly decent in its depths.

The snow started to melt under the early spring's sun,
the wind's breath has started to warm up as well.
Sitting in front of my door the years pass me by,
a picture's bright colours fading within a moment.

Slowly I rise, stiffly choosing my steps, silently
thinking of the past, the head down.
But soon the blood in tempest will boil,
and in the asphalt streets of this city I will get lost.

...to be continued

hunger moon...

2009-02-08T22:54:00.001-05:00

...or Full Snow Moon, so named because of the amount of snow that falls during February. Also observed by the native Americans as the Hunger Moon as it became very difficult to gather food during this month. So this Monday let's pause and think about the full moon when you see it rising in the sky. Let's wonder about the billions that will be spent to fix the economic system and hope they are allocated in the correct way so that we don't experience the Hunger Moon...

Summertime in Prague

2009-02-02T10:29:00.005-05:00

Summertime in Prague
when blood was warm
when blood was young
after all those tears
after all those years
I long for

Summertime in Prague
we were so rich
without a dime
when I was your queen
and you were my king
without a palace

We would sleep in cheap hotels
and wake up from the sound of bells on Sundays
we would only drink cheap wine
but I was yours
and you were mine

Summertime in Prague
I was a fool
I could not see
that you were meant to be
the only one for me
now I long for

We would sleep in cheap hotels
and wake up from the sound of bells
on Sundays we would only drink cheap wine
but I was yours
and you were mine

Summertime in Prague
when blood was warm
when blood was young
after all those tears
after all those years
I long for
Summertime in Prague

by Panayotis Kalantzopoulos (with Elli Paspala singing)...is one of those songs that carry few lifetimes in them. Have a listen and let me know what you think.

conversations

2009-01-25T13:53:00.001-05:00

At what point in time do our lives become so boring that the most we can manage out of a conversation is the inanity of leafing through a magazine remarking gems such as if so-and-so's kitchen could have used a different kind of patterned tile?

Random snippets, not even random thoughts, just bander innocuous enough to fill in the dead space hanging between two people sitting in a cafe. “Alfa Romeo has this new convertible. I think they've gotten away from basics”. And then bored silence to be broken by yet another similarly existentially vacuous comment.

I'm not looking for profundity in every statement. No life changing aphorisms of an examined life. Perhaps some passive participation in what we know as life. Some indication of awareness that you left the blinders at home today and walked outside beholding the world with some awe. Wonderment at its absurdity, and surreal elements where people feel empowered to spend $1 million on decorating an office, collect billions in bonuses and still let their companies report billions more in losses.

...but when does tomorrow come?

2009-01-18T13:32:00.006-05:00

..."tomorrow will be a better day", "save for a rainy day", "tomorrow is another day", "learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow", etc.

You get the drift. Phrases we utter without hesitation, mostly alluding to a time in the future (near or otherwise) different in many aspects from our current situation. But what I want to know is when does tomorrow come? And if it doesn't come then what?

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” - Albert Einstein

barefoot in the sand / ξυπολητοι στην αμμο

2009-01-17T17:45:00.002-05:00

Walking, recalling sun-filled afternoons
looking into your eyes, listening to the sea
Softly crushing on the beach, the pebbles I
Tried to skip over the surf, the words left behind
Written in the sand by hand, a fleeting “with love from…”
Only to be washed away,
But still taken and carried as far as the waves
Can bring such words.

You Must Believe in Spring...

2009-01-10T12:32:00.004-05:00

τσουχτερο το κρυο και σημερα,
νιφαδες ασπρες παιχνιδιαρικες πεφτουν
και παιζουνε μαζι μας βιαστικα σαν περπατουμε,
σκυφτο το κεφαλι, τα χερια βαθια στις τσεπες.
σε λιγο οι δρομοι σκεπασμενοι
θα'ναι κι' αυτοι, απροσπεραστοι.
σου πιανω το χερι σφιχτα, και τρεχουμε
να προλαβουμε το τραινο μην και τα
γκριζα παλι γινουν φανερα και δεν μπορουμε
να τα κρυψουμε γρηγορα.
κι' εσυ στην αγκαλια σου με κρατας,
ψιθυριζοντας λεξεις στοργικες,
καθως κοιταζοντας απ' το παραθυρο
φευγαλεες εικονες μιας ανοιξης παλιας

Bitterly cold again today,
snow flakes white and playful are falling,
toying with us as we hurry through the city,
heads down, hands deep in our pockets.
Soon the roads will be covered in snow, impassable.
Holding your hand tightly we run to catch the train
before everything turns gray and we cannot hide anymore.
And you, you hold me in your arms,
whispering tender words as I look out the window
fleeting images of a spring gone by.

Lounging the Canadian way...

2009-01-03T17:10:00.007-05:00

...in New York's Bryant Park, sipping hot whiskey was definitely the way to go while in the city this past week for the New Year's celebrations.

Also visiting MOMA for the Van Gogh and the Colours of the Night exhibit wasn't bad either!

this new year's eve...

2008-12-31T18:00:00.005-05:00

From Bohemian Hearts

...let's make a wish that 2009 will not be as difficult as everything points it will be.
Let's wish that if not all, then at least those that can, do make the choice to bring on a better tomorrow, where deep-seated, age-long hatreds are re-examined and looked upon from a more contemporary and realist point of view.
And let's make a wish that the interests of outsiders do not interfere with local and national interests.

peace, love and understanding

As the events in Greece...

2008-12-09T18:27:00.004-05:00

...continue to unfold...

Τα Επεισοδια
Τα δακρυα τρεχουνε, το νεφος μας σκεπαζει
Στη μεση του δρομου,
Η ανασα με κοπο βγαινει απ’ τα χειλια
Τρεχουμε μα ποτε δεν φτανουμε
Γιατι πανω μας καθονται αλλοι,
Μας κρατανε κατω σαν παλαιστες μεσα
Στο στιβο αυτης της μολυβενιας πολης,
Κατι παχυσαρκοι βρικολακες που μας
Ρουφανε το αιμα αχορταγοι.
Και η φωνη μας τωρα εχει αρπαξει φορα
Τρεχει κι’ αυτη μαζι μας αλλα ειναι μπροστα,
Ακουγεται σαν ανεμος στα δενδρα της λεωφορου,
Στα καπνισμενα χτιρια, μεσα στις φλογες που
Θα τις σβυσει, θα ανεβασει και μεσα στα
Παραθυρα θα μπει, θα μπει και στα αυτια τους,
Θα μπει και στο στομα και στο νου

these words, these days...

2008-11-22T14:59:00.003-05:00

φτιαχνω καφε αυτο το φθινοπωρινο πρωι,
καφε σαν κι αυτον που πιναμε
σαν νεαρα παιδια των ονειρων
στη καφετερια της πλατειας
σε βλεπω στο απεναντι τραπεζακι
να καθεσαι με τις φιλες σου να συζητας
και καμια φορα ριχνεις μια ματια
προς το μερος μου μη τυχον
σε κοιταζω οπως κι εσυ.
κι οταν το βλεμμα σου επανω
στο δικο μου πεφτει,
κι οι δυο ξαφνικα αλλου κοιταμε.
και το παιχνιδι αυτο συνεχιζεται
σαν τον χορο των μαραμενων φυλλων
στον ανεμο του φθινοπωρου αυτου.

I put the coffee on this autumn morning,
coffee like we drank as dreaming youth
at the cafe in our town square.
I see you across the tables
sitting with your friends, talking,
once in a while glancing towards me
in case I'm looking at you.
And when your fleeting glance meets
mine, we both look away suddenly.
And that game goes on
like falling leaves dancing
in the autumn wind.

what music now?

2008-10-20T11:02:00.012-04:00

Matisse's remake of Cindi Lauper's She Bop is an outstanding example of the high quality music that is coming out of Greece these days. Also, Call Me, Call Me shows their talent in creating original quality alternative music...all from their album Toys Up

Transistor is a slightly darker band whose song Living was featured in Dimitris Papaspyropoulos' Blessed and Cursed compilation. Their new CD, Things You Miss When You Blink is out of Shift Records and contains their above-mentioned hit as well as a number of well crafted songs.

Both of the bands above sing in English whereas Joanna Drigo sings in both English and Greek in her new CD, Καποιες Ωρες Γεννιουντε τα Ονειρα loosely translated as Some Hours the Dreams are Born. Her voice resembles slightly that of A Girl Called Eddy in some songs like Vicky (in two versions on the CD, Greek and English). Another influence is PJ Harvey and she has covered her song, Rid of Me. Αλλεργια Στης Δεσμευσεις, or Allergy to Commitments is another of the highlights in this CD.

new Jem CD!

2008-09-17T16:49:00.005-04:00

Down to Earth is the name of the long-awaited, some may say hotly anticipated, second full release by Jem. Good first impressions. A number of tracks such as "Keep on Walking", "It's Amazing", "On Top of The World", "And So I Pray" keep the CD going, while "Aciid" shows Jem's earlier influences such as Basement Jaxx and Tom Tom Club.

I'll have a more in-depth review in a bit. In the meantime, you can catch a live glimpse of Jen at imeem

price gouging?

2008-09-14T23:58:00.002-04:00

The price of unleaded gasoline for October delivery at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) on Thursday, 11 September 2008 was trading at $2.670/gal. The price of premium gasoline that I fill up with was at $3.67 at this particular Sunoco station on Route 9. The price of unleaded gasoline at the NYMEX for October delivery on Friday, when the threat from Ike to the coast of Texas and the refineries and chemical plants region was getting worse, ended the day trading 6 cents higher at $2.72. At the pumps, meanwhile, premium gasoline was about $3.89. Fair enough, so far. However, today (or more specifically tonight), unleaded gasoline is trading about 10 cents lower at $2.62/gal while at the pumps premium gas is being sold for over $4.00/gal. Short supply maybe? Price gouging maybe? What do you think?

new blog layout, new post...

2008-09-10T23:28:00.002-04:00

It has been quite a while but I think it's time I started posting again. For now, let's just say that I'm just peeking through the curtained window to see what's going on out there and very, very soon I will follow up with news, books, music, movies, reviews and other random postings. I hope you join me.

Respect!

when there's nothing left to burn...

2006-06-06T17:22:00.000-04:00

...you have to set yourself on fire...

Thus starts Stars' CD from last year, "Set Yourself On Fire". The line is taken from the song "Your Ex-Lover is Dead", which contains another line that always floor me when I hear it: "This scar is a fleck on my porcelain skin". It must be the haunting quality of Amy Millan's (guitarist and singer) delivery. There are a number of outstanding songs in the CD such as "The Big Fight", an interplay between lead singer Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan recounting a breakup (something we all can relate to), "One More Night" and "Ageless Beauty". Not your average rocker, like their fellow Canadians Arcade Fire, but rather one of last year's top electro-pop bands combining synths, strumming guitars and romantic duet vocals to produce a rather eclectic sound.

some of the time...

2006-03-16T18:16:00.000-05:00

"Some of the time the future comes right round to haunt me / Some of the time the future comes round just to see / that all is as it should be / all is there to remind me, we've got to wait and see / We've got to let it be,"

I wish I could remember where I heard these lyrics and the reason I put them here. Now I have to sit down and contemplate the reason. I think I'll need a strong drink for that. It was sometime in February and I was listening to some new - at the time - music.

There isn't much to say about new music so far this year - few noteworthy releases such as Arctic Monkeys, Belle and Sebastian, Beth Orton and a new collection by Greek DJ Dimitris Papaspyropoulos come to mind. I will post their reviews shortly. Mainly I've been listening again to some CDs released late last year.

Going back to those lyrics posted above, I get a sense of optimism out of them. A hopeful sense that no matter what the future will bring, in the end everything will be alright. It may be youthful naivite that is prompting the singer to sing these lyrics, or maybe some form of resignation to the notion that the future (whatever it is) it will always bring what it's supposed to and we cannot change that.

chasing you...

2006-01-04T00:18:00.000-05:00

Love,
I spent so many sleepless nights for you,
I spent so many days chasing you,
Trying to find a way to reach you.

Love,
My hair was dark like the night when first
I laid eyes on you as we crossed paths, but
Now has slowly turned to salt and pepper.

Love,
My hair is more salt than pepper these days,
And still I chase after you in hidden pathways.
Across the continents and over the seas.

this piece of earth...

2006-01-03T12:41:00.000-05:00

...virtual earth actually, was left unattended and almost uncared for for a while now. But who can blame its caretaker, for the soil grew solid, frozen as the once familiar winter made its presence known again. Maybe with a little care this can change and something will grow again.

I decided to take a trip the week of Christmas, visit old stomping grounds where I used to live at once. There are so many people I haven't seen after the day I made that fateful decision to become part of the brain drain. That's an affliction that not too long ago had been very hard on my once-adopted home country, Canada. Highly qualified graduates, post graduates, and experienced professionals embarked on a trip to test the waters south of the border. In a sense they heard the siren call of the greenback, less taxation, more freedom, and whatever else is supposed to come from south of the 49th parallel. Oh yeah, and the warmer weather...I am not certain of the statistics now, but I am sure the exodus continues.

There was a small detour on the way to Toronto by way of Atlanta, stopping there to meet old friends, friends that I have missed since moving to Boston eight months ago. Friendship is something that endures the passage of time and the difficulties of life. And it is a wonderful feeling you experience meeting someone you haven't seen for a while, reconnecting, and continuing almost from where you left of. I was lucky to have enjoyed such a feeling twice - in Atlanta and Toronto.

...

for your listening pleasure...

2005-11-30T10:09:00.000-05:00

...you can listen to some of the artists reviewed and previewed on Bohemian Hearts at the AuralSpaces radio blog . You can also find the link under the Open All Night section. Enjoy!

Jem in Boston...

2005-11-19T03:32:00.000-05:00

Jem came to Boston on Wednesday November 9 for a show at the famed Paradise Club. In case you don't know who she is, Jem comes from Wales, is very talented and her debut CD, Finally Woken shows that this singer/songwritter is more than another Dido or Beth Orton. Instead, her songs are combinations of sizzling electric guitars, trip hop reggae and heartfelt ballads that stir the soul.

At her live show, the last in the U.S. this year, even though evidently tired from the tour, Jem brought her songs to life to the delight of the audience. Some of best songs were "24", "Come on Closer", "Save Me", "Wish I", "Missing You", a tribute to a dead friend,

...All the wonderful memories
just make me fall apart
And it feels like somebody's
stabbed me in my heart
...
I wish this could be
a happy song
But my happiness disappeared
the moment you were gone

a rousing rendition of "Sweet Home Alabama" during the band intro, and my personal favourite, "Falling for You", a song about the heartaches associated with allowing oneself to fall in love, the subsequent and almost always guaranteed breakups, and the inevitable unwillingness to wanting to fall in love again:

...It's true I've become a skeptic
How many couples really love
Just wish I had a crystal ball
To show me, if it's worth it all

Coz I can feel it, baby
I feel like I'm falling for you
But I'm scared to, let go
I'm scared coz my heart has been hurt so
...
And I've got to be sure
Coz it's been so long
And I cannot take the pain again
If it all goes wrong

Love, Peace and Understanding...

what music now?

2005-11-06T14:29:00.000-05:00

Some of these CDs (The Shortwave Set, Ivy) came out earlier in the year and as we are nearing the end of 2005, it's good to go back, listen again and review some of them.

The Shortwave Set - The Debt Collection
This is not your average white band. Instead it's a group of three friends from Deptford on of London's artsy neighbourhoods, who have created easily one of the best and innovative CDs this year. Just listen to the magnificent "Is It Any Wonder". How can you best describe this music? Urban electro-folk? Perhaps. Maybe we just call it inventive pop. Whatever you call it, I don't think you'll easily find a voice evoking such feeling of longing and love as Swedish singer and guitarist Ulrika Bjorsne does on the achingly sublime "Repeat To Fade". The music comes courtesy of, according to the band, Greenwich Market's junk-shop broken instruments, acoustic guitars, found sounds, all collaged together with a sampler. It's not as if these musicians are not talented on their own. On the contrary, The Debt Collection is full of strong and talented songwriting such as the songs mentioned earlier, as well as "Roadside", "Head To Fill", "Figures of '62", and the closing "Yr. Room". Even though The Debt Collection was released in the summer, it will definitely keep you warm during winter.
Ivy - In the Clear
Wonderful pop music featuring Paris-born Dominique Durand and some fine guitar and fellow band members Andy Chase, Adam Schlesinger as well as guest appearances from Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha and Fountains of Wayne's Jody Porter. Ivy became known to wider audiences with the song This Is The Day from the movie There's Something About Mary. This is the band's fifth release finding them in the familiar trip-hoppy, uplifting and romantic environment they have meticulously crafted over the previous releases. "Keep Moving" must be one of the best pop songs of 2005 together with Royksopp's "Only This Moment". How can someone resist Durand's melancholic smooth vocals, with just enough of that French accent?

Other standout tracks include "Thinking About You", "Tess Don't Tell", "Four In The Morning", and the St. Etienne-, even 60s-influenced "Cornerns Of Your Mind" with its longing lyrics of the isolation that relationships often harbour, "and it only goes to show/there are worlds I'll never know/ there are rooms I'll never find/ in the corners of your mind". The CD closes with "Feel So Free" featuring former Girls Against Boys frontman Scott McLoud on vocals with Durand.
Paul Weller - As Is Now
The latest release by the once-frontman of The Jam finds him at his best. Paul Weller continues to write well-crafted songs with the same intesity as he did 30 years ago for the Jam and for the more jazzy Style Council. "Blink and You'll Miss It" is a great example of the white-soul pop only Weller can write. "Come On/Let's Go" features fast and louder guitars last heard on Jam's In The City. "Here's The Good News" has an almost-cabaret quality to it with its plonking piano and trombone. The piano ballad "Pan" will transport you back to the Style Council days, although in my opinion, it does not come close to the majestic "Paris Match". With the sunny tempo of "I Want To Make It Alright", Paul Weller has written a touching love song of incredible honesty and maturity, complete with a great jazzy guitar part. Definitely a CD that will be playing at home and car often over the next few months.
Damian 'Jr. Gong' Marley - Welcome to Jamrock
Damian is the youngest of Bob Marley's sons and he is proving to be as aggressively political as his immortal father was. This third CD comes after the 2001 Grammy winner Halfway Tree which was referring to the intersection of Hope Road and Three Mile leading to the ghettos on one side and to the uptown, "posh" areas of Kingston on the other, and serves the same socially conscious missives. "Out in the streets they call it murder!" proclaims Ine Kamoze (through the sample) and Marley serves a polemic in "Welcome to Jamrock" about the inequalities of modern life, the wasted education, basic as it may be, and the trickery of politicians. The rest of the CD is a great mix of reggae, dancehall, and hip hop, featuring samples from Bob Marley on many songs such as "All Night", "Move", and "Pimpa's Paradise". This last song is a remake of Bob's original from the Uprising record, and Damian has done a great job in updating the story of drugs dealing and prostitution.

"There For You", "The Master Has Come Back", "Beautiful", "Hey Girl", and "Road to Zion" are worth more than just one listen.

thoughts from the front...

2005-11-05T17:53:00.000-05:00

distances
wilted flowers from a forgotten feast
stare at me from the vase,
and i stare back
what do you use as a measure for this gap?
the distance from here to the moon,
the miles between two cities,
the countless pebbles of an autumn's empty beach,
the space between your body facing away from mine,
even as you lie next to me?

ticking away...

2005-10-26T15:32:00.000-04:00

...the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

An apt description of how drab life can be at times, especially when you lose sight of your objectives. Just leave it to Pink Floyd to come up with one of the best songs describing that process, with Time.

And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

In my not so eloquent words, we are confronted with choices early on in our lives, and the paths we choose determine who we turn into. These choices become our fate in a sense. And the only way to make sure our choices become our fate is to embrace them in one huge, fearless gulp of air that will make the gods of fate ashamed.

Strive to be better at being human, instead of trying to be something you can never be sure of. Working, talking, arguing, loving, living - just refuse to go stale!

Love and Peace

let the sunshine in...

2005-10-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

I woke up Sunday morning to the sight of something I hadn’t seen for some time – sunlight pouring in through the window and waking me up. After seven days of constant rain this was indeed a welcomed event, even though the splitting headache of Saturday night’s debauchery was threatening to make me pass out.

words that touch the soul...

2005-10-16T11:22:00.000-04:00

The stranger sang a theme,
From someone else's dream
The leaves began to fall
And no one spoke at all
But I can't seem to recall
When you came along
Ingenue,
I just don't know what to do

The tree-lined avenue
Begins to fade from view
Drowning past regrets
In tea and cigarettes
But I can't seem to forget
When you came along
Ingenue,
I just don't know what to do
(Life In Mono - Martin Virgo/John Barry)

what music now (fall edition)?

2005-10-13T02:21:00.000-04:00

In these early days of autumn the following CDs keep spinning away at home and car:

Metric - Live It Out
This a transitional work for a Emily Haines' band as they shift away from synthesizer-based indie-pop (Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?), to guitar-rocking indie rock. Emily Haines has also been part of another great Canadian collective, Broken Social Scene
Elbow - Leaders of the Free World
Very emotional and personal work for Elbow and not as rocky as previous releases (Cast of Thousands). I can't get that feeling that Guy Garvey comes off a little like Peter Gabriel. There are some great lyrics in here such as The Stops ("I'll miss you the way you miss the sea"), The Everthere ("If I loose a sequin here and there/ More salt than pepper in my hair/ Can I rely on you/ When all the songs are through/ To be for me the everthere"), or My Very Best ("And would you tell her/ Not to talk as if I died/ Though a tiny part just did"). Beautifully poetic.
Keep In Time: A Live Recording. Funky music from Ninja Tunes label to keep those dreary New England days warm. Think of P-Funk and George Clinton.

More later (Depeche Mode, etc.)

art for art's sake...

2005-10-12T17:47:00.000-04:00

continuing and upcoming art exhibits around the world:

Jean-Michel Basquiat showcasing the art of a brilliant but tragic contemporary American artist. The Brooklyn Museum, the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston have also created a unique Basquiat-related website From Street to Studio: The Art of Jean-Michel Basquiat. On view from November 20, 2005 to February 12, 2006 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.

Cezanne in Provence at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC between January 19 - May 7, 2006. This exhibit will mark the centenary of Cezanne's death. Not to be missed!

Also at the National Gallery of Art in DC, Dada, the "most comprehensive museum exhibition of Dada art ever mounted in the United States". Ends October 22, 2005.

If you are in NYC over the next 10 days, visit the Sean Kelly Gallery for Laurie Anderson's "The Waters Reglitterized", an exhibition of her latest installation, a recreation of dreams during her time on the road last year.

For those of you in Denmark of flying there between now and December 4, 2005, you can catch Matisse & a collection of exhibitions at the Statens Museum for Kunst. The exhibitions feature nine of Matisse's masterpieces created during a key period of his creativity, 1905-1918, three contemporary artists in interplay with his works, and eight international experts' take on Matisse's universe.

If you prefer a slightly warmer climate during the fall and early winter whilst in Europe, you could visit the National Museum of Contemporary Art for a look at Videographies - The early decades which includes post-formalist and post-minimalist works from the 60s through the 80s. These works of art "explore critically, contemplatively and poetically, human substance and essence within the network of its social, communicative, existential and transcultural relationships". Phew! I'm glad I didn't have to say that from memory.

Love, Peace and Understanding

if you could read my mind...

2005-10-08T12:11:00.000-04:00

Dream 1 ("The Dream Cycle")
I wake up in the middle of the night
still clutching fading cobwebs of a dream,
a dream that should never have started,
but since it did, I wish it would stay forever.

I wake up in the middle of the night
still reeling from the sweet wine that was
this dream, still feeling drunk from such
sweet sensations, wondering whether to
chase away your countless pictures in my mind.

Am I still dreaming? I want to wake up
hoping your memory will be gone,
hoping that you'll be gone from my dreams
just like you were gone from my heart.

But I can't. The brilliance of your image
exhausts my heart, causing me pain
I long had forgotten, the sad sweetness
of a lament still echoing in my ears.

loping along at the usual pace...

2005-10-02T09:39:00.000-04:00

Love. People in love and people out of it, people who say they've heard of it but will tell us they never think about it, people who claim to have lived through it but say never again, people who deny its existence and whose lives may or may not reflect that sentiment, people who would scale the highest summit to plant its flag, those who walk shadowy lanes in fear of it, those who probe those shadows in search of it, those who stroll hand in hand with it, those who shoot poisoned arrows at it, those who confuse love wth everything else, those who assert nearly all well-travelled roads lead to or from it, and then there is ViVa Straight, sometimes one and sometimes the other, and this is her story, the story upon which all other stories hang like clothing flung across a clothesline, the day windy, though skies are blue.

Post-modernist literature at its best!

More on this later...

au nord de notre vie...

2005-09-27T03:32:00.000-04:00

...is the title of a record by a well-known (at least during the mid 1970s and early 1980s) Canadian progressive-folk band, Cano. It can be roughly translated as "our life in the north", or maybe "our northern life". And so, during the last week of August, 2005, I found myself in my northern life, my life in the north.

If you have never been to the Canadian East Coast or North Bay, or Algonquin Park in Northern Ontario, there is nothing that can prepare you for the stark beauty of that region. You can get a glimpse of the wind-shaped trees against the barren vistas and the rock formations carved by the visiting tides from the works of the seminal Canadian artists collectively known as the Group of Seven. These paintings capture the all-too real scenery better than any photograph can, capturing the spirit on the north, and the power hidding in these lands.

A week before Labour Day – actually that last weekend in August - I decided to drive up the coast of Maine and into New Brunswick, with the idea of crossing over, either by boat or by driving around, to Nova Scotia. I managed to get to New Brunswick after passing up couple of opportunities to get to Nova Scotia, the first at Bar Harbour, ME, which would have lasted about 4 hours, the other from St. John, NB and into Digby lasting about couple of hours.

Once I got to St. John I was unable to leave. I was running short of time and there were so many places to visit and see. A trip to Nova Scotia would have required another week at the least to do it justice.

I hope the photographs below, alongside some of the Group of Seven paintings, display, even though poorly, the powerfull beauty of the Great North. One can only imagine the emotions such scenery evoked in these artists to allow them to express their wonder through their eyes.

words that touch the soul...

2005-09-27T01:55:00.000-04:00

In the dark of the night
Those small hours
Uncertain and anxious
I need to call you

Rooms full of strangers
Some call me friend
But I wish you were so close to me

In the dark of night
Those small hours
I drift away
When I'm with you

In the dark of night
By my side
In the dark of night
By my side, by my side, by my side
I wish you were
I wish you were

Here comes the clown
His face is a wall
No window
No air at all

In the dark of night
These faces they haunt me
But I wish you were
So close to me

In the dark of night
By my side
In the dark of night
By my side, by my side, by my side
I wish you were
I wish you were

In the dark of night
These faces they haunt me
And I wish you were so close to me

Yes I wish you were
By my side
INXS - "By My Side"

You do something to me, something deep inside
I'm hanging on the wire for a love I'll never find
You do something wonderful then chase it all away
Mixing my emotions that throws me back again
Hanging on the wire, I'm waiting for the change
I'm dancing through the fire, just to catch a flame
an' feel real again

You do something to me somewhere deep inside
I'm hoping to get close to a peace I cannot find

Dancing through the fire just to catch a flame
Just to get close to, just close enough
To tell you that.....

You do something to me something deep inside.
Paul Weller - "You Do Something to Me"

let's all try and help...

2005-09-03T11:01:00.000-04:00

...the hurricane victims in Mississippi and Louisiana! There are many ways we can help, not just with money but also by donating clothes and even used cell phones we have gathering up in closets and drawers. The Red Cross and The Salavation Army are accepting monetary donations, but there are many more other legitimate organizations as I have posted in the sidebar that will accept other types of donations.

Peace, Love and Understanding

words that touch the soul...

2005-09-02T09:04:00.000-04:00

Simply brilliant CD. If I could, I would dedicate this song to all the women I see walking by but will never meet...

You're Beautiful
James Blunt, "Back To Bedlam"

My life is brilliant.
My love is pure.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw you face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.

Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by.
She could see from my face that I was,
Fucking high,
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.

You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
I saw you face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.
You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.

Kate Bush at last (!) and More Art News

2005-08-31T14:20:00.000-04:00

It's been, what, 12 long years but the lady who mixed music and mime into a work of art will be back with a new release. The two-CD set is titled "Aerial" and is scheduled for release November 7th. The first single, "King of The Mountain" will be released on October 24th. Collaborations on the new CD include Mick Karn, best known for his bass guitar (fretless at that too!) work with Japan and his surreal solo work. Other collaborations include artists include drummer Stuart Elliott, jazz percussionist Peter Erskine, and string arrangements for two tracks by the late Michael Kamen.

For those of you visiting Greece this fall, make a trip to the capitol of the north, Thessaloniki during 10/21 through 11/15 to get a glimpse at K.Bhta's multimedia exhibit at the National Museum of Modern Art. It will include video, photographs and paintings (like the one below) from one of Greece's most interesting artists/musicians.

Peace, Love and Understanding

what music now...

2005-08-26T13:34:00.000-04:00

These waning days of summer, my CD player at home and car is constantly playing the following:

James Blunt - Back to Bedlam

Brazilian Girls - Brazilian Girls

Royksopp - The Understanding

Deep Dish - George is On

Keren Ann – Nolita

From those listed above, James Blunt must be the most pleasant surprise of a CD I've heard in a long while. Back to Bedlam contains ten stunning vignettes built around stories on relationships, breakups and friendships. The lyrics are bursting with emotions, and the music is diversely moving between folk, pop and soulful ballads. Even though Back to Bedlam was released last year, it is only now gaining wider exposure in North America.

Keren Ann is a beautiful singer who moved to Paris a while back to create songs in the vein of the French singers she loves. The first two releases were all in French sounding a little like Francoise Hardy or Jane Birkin at times. In 2004 she released Not Going Anywhere, mostly English versions of songs from her previous CDs. Most recently, Keren Ann has moved to New York City, and more particularly in Little Italy (actually a little north of it), which explains the title of her newest CD, Nolita. I’ll have a more detailed review of Nolita in an upcoming posting.

Love, Peace and … good listening!

intelligent design...

2005-08-26T13:05:00.000-04:00

...what a convenient term to describe the re-emergence and return of organized religion in the world of science, politics, policy and everyday life in general!

Are we coming full circle? Didn't those who left the old world behind did so in order to escape persecution for their beliefs, whether in science, religion or politics? Is this an attempt to bridge the separation of church and state? More importantly, do we live in such an uncertain world that we need to believe in superstitions, Friday the 13th, a four-leaf clover or a lucky rabbit’s foot, and black cats? Has science let us down in such a way that we have to start accepting the creation story found in the writings of monotheistic theologies as true? Is the world really only about 5,000 years old as some religious writings will have us believe?

Or is simply that intelligent design is an attempt by the current political force to maintain the hold it is having on certain groups within the population?

What does science have to say about the way the universe was created? If I’m not mistaken, scientists agree on some form of evolutionary theory to explain how we were created. If we give in to the intelligent design attempt to explain creation, we may as well start believing Descartes (Meditations) and other philosophers of past centuries who attempted to philosophically attribute our existence on some “malicious demon”.

More to come…

Peace, Love and Understanding!

what a wonderful, "wired" world!

2005-08-09T09:34:00.000-04:00

A number of interesting stories have appeared in the news over the past couple of days showcasing the weird and wonderful world of technology we are currently living in. The benefits of the technological advances in the stories that follow are enormous, both societal and economic. However, the chances of abuse and misuse of these advances are also quite evident, and that is why we should be all become aware of them and what they could possibly mean for us in the future.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts have discovered that bacteria used for cleaning toxic waste are creating nanowires as a byproduct. The bacteria, known as Geobacter, use metal for a power source instead of oxygen. Here's the link Bacteria grow conductive wires. The possibilities seem endless as do the potential rewards, especially from owning the right nano-technology stock.

Wired News is reporting that the British will soon be testing new car license plates with microchips embedded in them. The microchips will contain the vehicle identification number and other data which will be transmittable to readers about 300 feet away. The United States is also experimenting with similar "active RFID technologies" which are currently used in "electronic toll-collection". The technology can also be used by national security and law enforcement agencies in their fight against terrorism and crime. The other side of the coin is that these "smartplates" can be used to invade the privacy of drivers.

This RFID technology is also currently being tested in passports, according to Wired News, with airline pilots and flight crew as the test subjects. The chip-embedded passports will be used for security purposes at airports and international crossing points as part of governments' attempts to fight to fight the rise of supranational terrorism. Of course there are critics here as well. Since the chips will not be encrypted, those carrying these types of passports "could serve as a beacon to thieves and terrorists targeting Americans traveling abroad". This flaw can be easily corrected by encrypting the chips or enhanced with "optical technology" which will allow the chip to be read only after the passport has been opened.

For more information on the RFID technology, also described as "the mark of the beast", the obvious reference from the Book of Revelation in the New Testament, I refer you to the following article, To Tag or Not to Tag.

Peace and Love.

upcoming art exhibits

2005-08-08T00:33:00.000-04:00

As the summer is coming to a close, so do a number of worthy art exhibitions around the country:

So if you do find yourselves in these wonderful towns (i.e. NYC, LA, San Diego or Houston), try to visit the museums and enhance your summer experience.

Peace and Love.

coldplay in boston - music for those who can't dance

2005-08-07T12:45:00.000-04:00

here's the setlist from Saturday night's Coldplay concert at the Tweeter Center:

square one
politik
yellow
god put a smile upon your face
speed of sound
low
the hardest part
everything not lost
white shadows
the scientist
'till kingdom come (acoustic)
don't panic (acoustic)
clocks
talk
what if
swallowed in the sea
fix you (encore)

I may be off by a song or two, but that's because I'm writing this half asleep. The show was good. Coldplay put on a solid performance and they pretty much played everything from the double-platinum X & Y, as well as their staple hits usually performed in concert. It's a testament to the quality of Coldplay's latest CD, having gone double platinum after only a month of its release. Despite the fact that the band has gone to great lengths to promote X & Y, and the almost formulaic style, the CD holds its ground based on a good number of well-crafted songs that translate very well on stage.

From the first note of "Square One", the crowd jumped to its feet, never sat down, and sang along during almost all the songs. Chris Martin did his crazy, twirling dance, while delivering songs of emotional depth capable of effectively reaching his audience. "What if you should decide that you don't want me there by your side" from "What if" is as bleak as anything we may have heard from such bands as Joy Division. Or, "All you ever wanted was love but you never looked hard enough" from "Low", and "when you love someone but it goes to waste, could it be worse?...when you're too in love to let it go" from "Fix You". These are lyrics of emotional angst that touch Coldplay fans and will continue to do so. The only criticism I have is that I wished that Coldplay would just unclench a bit and rip through some of their songs like the rock band that they want to be. Then, and only then, would they be able to reach their idols, U2.

Peace, Love and Understanding

books you'll never see on Oprah's list

2005-07-31T12:27:00.000-04:00

Here's a list of books I bet Oprah will not be recommending on her show or website. They are in no particular order or subject matter. I haven't really considered the possibility that some of these books may or may not have been mentioned by the guests on the show.

I have moved the list over to the sidebar and will continue to update it on a regular basis. Also, if you want, just send me your favourite books for consideration.

Peace, Love and Understanding

if you could read my mind...

2005-07-30T13:41:00.000-04:00

it seems our dreams
turned into smoke
and scattered by the wind
in this small life.

it seems you were a beacon
to find my way in the dark
of night, where my steps
brought me in this small life.

it seems that life never ends
no matter how quickly it passes
you by, like your name i wrote
in the sand before the waves.

it seems the first kiss is the last,
the one i search in every passing
face, a sun breaking through
the clouds in this small life.

the summer...

2005-07-30T13:33:00.000-04:00

...doldrum days are here as we head into the final summer month, August. With only about 150 days left before the end of the year, I'm trying to spend as much time as I can enjoying the beautiful summer weather and the beaches of New England. Especially since winter here in the Northeast is really not all that far away.

i've gotten...

2005-07-16T12:02:00.000-04:00

...lazy these past few weeks and haven't posted for some time. My apologies, the Oscillation Overthruster was out of order. So here it goes, some updates from life in the Northeast.

For the July 4th weekend, and of course, Canada Day, I visited the North Shore. More specifically, I spent time around Cape Ann (Rockport), and went a little further up to Ipswich, where it is believed to have the best fried clams in New England. They do! Ipswich-Essex is also full of parks and the home of Crane Beach - two miles of white sand and clean waters. Oh yeah, and some rocks too!

For those who don't know, Rockport is an artists' colony in Cape Ann. Very much a tourist trap, and up until, and including, the weekend I was there, a dry town! Now, after 70-odd years restaurants and other such establishments are allowed to serve alcohol on their premises. Imagine that! I wonder how did the artists managed to get any work done then?

The beaches though were nice, some were off to the side and away from all the crowds, and the water was nice and clear. Late afternoon, early evening swims were the best, looking at the sun slowly going down, and then rushing out to get the camera and capture to other than just memory such fine sites!

the world...

2005-07-08T01:11:00.000-04:00

...is a terrible place, if when the leaders of the most powerful and richest nations in the world gather together in order to try and help others less fortunate, despite their political and ideological differences, and a bunch of nameless cowards take on innocent people by slaughtering and maiming them on their way to make something better of themselves. But, despite all that, despite these violent acts of cowardice, humanity will never give up, humanity will continue to strive towards improving its condition on this planet, and will never surrender to extremism.

Peace, Love and Understanding

Happy Canada Day and ...

2005-07-01T11:01:00.000-04:00

...Happy July 4th to all!

As a Canadian living in the US, I am celebrating both holidays. Being spending few days around the North Shore. See all y'all (ha!) upon my return.

what music now: Royksopp's "The Understanding"

2005-06-28T10:48:00.000-04:00

Royksopp's new CD "The Understanding" contains the song "Only This Moment" that is already a hit in many clubs around the world and will probably be the summer song in all the clubs, especially around the Meditteranean. Check the video here.

Here are some lines from the song:

Only this moment (Holds us together)
Close to perfection (Nothing is out there)
No one to guide us (Lost in the senses)
Deep down inside I know our love will die.

Only this moment (Holds us together)
Lost in confusion (Feelings are out there)
Scared of the ocean (Doubting intentions)
Deep down inside I know our love will die

Stay or forever go
Play or you’ll never know
We haven’t decided
You can’t deny it’s all you’ve been waiting for

Stay or forever go
Play or you’ll never know
Your spirit’s divided
You will decide if I’m all you’ve been waiting for

...

The CD opens strongly with a trademark Royksopp lush keyboards arrangement called "Triumphant", and is followed by the first single "Only This Moment". As I mentioned above, this song will be one of the most played songs this summer, with its soulful lyrics, sun-drenched melodies, and etheral vocals from the band itself and newcomer Kate Havernick. The rest of the new CD follows in similar steps as their debut, "Melody A.M." but without really copying their previous sound. Check "Follow My Ruin", which has an interesting hook sounding a little like a song from a very well known American musician who has been in trouble with the law until recently. The rest of the CD continues with songs made for the summer. Check out "Beautiful Day Without You", "What Else Is There", the robotic "Circuit Breaker", "Alpha Male", a tribute to both Pink Floyd circa "Wish You Were Here" and Tangerine Dream, and "Someone Like Me" sounding similar to Air's jazzy electronica.

"The Understanding" will be officially released in the U.K. on July 4th, July 12th in the U.S. (it's already out in Japan), and for those of you in the rest of the world, June 28th, according to the band's website.

Peace and Love

if you could read my mind...

2005-06-26T18:44:00.000-04:00

The days of summer are here, and there's nothing different than the summers I was used to in the South - hot, and sticky humid. Just the way I like it, full of mischief, the type of mischief that speaks of untold promises in the languid, humid days to come.

A walk under the green shade of the trees in the park, or a seaside stroll helps a bit to cool things down, keeping tempers and feelings moderate. And then a late afternoon shower comes. But the heat remains...

And the ghosts return...

When the room is quiet
The daylight almost gone
It seems there's something I should know

Well, I ought to leave
But the rain it never stops
And I've no particular place to go

Just when I think I'm winning
When I've broken every door
The ghosts of my life
Blow wilder than before

Just when I thought I could not be stopped
When my chance came to be king
The ghosts of my life
Blew wilder than the wind

Well, I'm feeling nervous
Now I find myself alone
The simple life's no longer there

Once I was so sure
Now the doubt inside my mind
Comes and goes but leads nowhere

Just when I think I'm winning
When I've broken every door
The ghosts of my life
Blow wilder than before

Just when I thought I could not be stopped
When my chance came to be king
The ghosts of my life
Blew wilder than the wind
(David Sylvian, Ghosts)

Speak Low

2005-06-20T17:55:00.000-04:00

Speak low when you speak, love
Our summer day withers away too soon, too soon
Speak low when you speak, love
Our moment is swift, like ships adrift, we're swept apart, too soon
Speak low, darling, speak low
Love is a spark, lost in the dark too soon, too soon
I feel wherever I go that tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here and always too soon
Time is so old and love so brief
Love is pure gold and time a thief
We're late, darling, we're late
The curtain descends, ev'rything ends too soon, too soon
I wait, darling, I wait
Will you speak low to me, speak love to me and soon

Kurt Weill / Ogden Nash

Iris Across Water

2005-06-20T17:16:00.000-04:00

One warm, breezy afternoon,
she comes into the garden,
bright sunlight casting shadows
on the wall...
sees her reflection in the quenching pool
and wonders, "who tended the irises so
in her absence, and when did the birds
nested here again?"

what music now: The National - "Alligator"

2005-06-19T12:22:00.000-04:00

This is the third release by The National a NYC-based quintet. Not having heard a great deal from their previous releases, this is definitely an impressive CD. One critic has said that even thought they are in essence a New York band, they don't sound like their contemporaries (Interpol, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for example). However, they do owe some of their sound to such 70's New York seminal bands as Television, Lou Reed and Velvet Underground. But, that doesn't mean they are copying someone else's style. On the contrary, this is highly accessible and energetic American rock music, with thoughtful, poetic, lyrics and a slightly alt-country sound. Often compared to Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen, although Joy Division's Ian Curtis is closer, Matt Berninger sings songs of lost love, heartbreak and remorse("You should've looked after her better/You should've looked after her more/You should've locked the door").

I find it hard to mention any bad ones, so standout cuts include "Looking For Astronauts", "Daughters of the Soho Riots" (How can anybody know/how they got to be this way/You must have known I'd do this someday/Break my arms around the one I love/And be forgiven by the time my lover comes/Break my arms around my love), and "Baby, We'll Be Fine":

Baby, We'll be Fine
All night I lay on my pillow and pray
For my boss to stop me in the hallway
Lay my head on his shoulder and say
Son, I've been hearing good things

I wake up without warning and go flying around the house
In my sauvignon fierce, freaking out
Take a forty-five minute shower and kiss the mirror
And say, look at me
Baby, we'll be fine
All we gotta do is be brave and be kind

I put on an argyle sweater and put on a smile
I don't know how to do this
I'm so sorry for everything

Baby, come over, I need entertaining
I had a stilted, pretending day
Lay me down and say something pretty
Lay me back down where I wanted to stay
Just say something perfect, something I can steal
Say, look at me
Baby, we'll be fine
All we've gotta do is be brave and be kind

I pull off your jeans, and you spill jack and coke in my collar
I melt like a witch and scream
I'm so sorry for everything

Also check "Karen", "All The Wine" and "City Middle".

forgotten lyrics...

2005-06-14T21:12:00.000-04:00

I thought I might remind some of you of lyrics from the not-too-distant past, lyrics that make more sense now...

So let's start with Toronto-based The Pursuit of Happiness and don't be afraid to send me your own favourites. I promise to post them.

I'm An Adult Now
Well, I don't hate my parents
I don't get drunk just to spite them
I've got my own reasons to drink now
Think I'll call my dad up and invite him
I can sleep in till noon anytime I want
Though there's not many days that I do
Gotta get up and take on that world
When your an adult it's no cliche it's the truth

'Cause I'm an adult now
I'm an adult now
I've got the problems of an adult
On my head and on my shoulders
I'm an adult now

I can't even look at young girls anymore
People will think I'm some kind of pervert
Adult sex is either boring or dirty
Young people they can get away with murder
I don't write songs about girls anymore
I have to write songs about women
No more boy meets girl boy loses girl
More like man tries to understand what the hell went wrong

'Cause I'm an adult now
I'm an adult now
I've got the problems of an adult
On my head and on my shoulders
I'm an adult now

I can't take any more illicit drugs
I can't afford any artificial joy
I'd sure look like a fool dead in a ditch somewhere
With a mind full of chemicals
Like some cheese-eating high school boy

'Cause I'm an adult now
I'm an adult now
I've got the problems of an adult
On my head and on my shoulders
I'm an adult now

Sometimes my head hurts and sometimes my stomach hurts
And I guess it won't be long
Till I'm sitting in a room with a bunch
of people whose necks and backs are aching
Whose sight and hearing's failing
Who just can't seem to get it up
Speaking of hearing, I can't take too much loud music
I mean I like to play it, but I sure don't like the racket
Noise, but I can't hear anything
Just guitars screaming, screaming, screaming
Some guy screaming in a leather jacket
Wooah!

'Cause I'm an adult now
I'm an adult now
I've got the problems of an adult
On my head and on my shoulders
I'm an adult now

upcoming events: synch - electronic music & digital arts festival

2005-06-09T18:45:00.000-04:00

Here's something for those of you that may be in Greece during the very early part of July:

The event takes place between July 1 through July 3 and features more than 60 Greek and foreign musicians, djs and vjs on 4 different stages. It takes place at Lavrio, itself a historic industrial site, once the home of Greece's first electric power plant, but now the home of The Technological and Cultural Park. The guest musicians are far too numerous to list here, but I will include the following non-Greek ones: Tortoise, Hiroshi Watanabe, Jori Hulkkonen, Swayzak, and the legendary TuxedoMoon among many others. More details can be found in the event's website, Synch.

Cape Cod

2005-06-08T13:00:00.000-04:00

spent couple of days this Memorial Day weekend at Cape Cod, re-familiarizing myself with the sea. Got in the car on Saturday with few choice CDs and did the "On the Road" thing, except that I had the comfort of my own transportation. Still, I started driving without any maps or directions, just following the road sign pointing me towards the Cape.

The sea and I are old friends. Older I think than I can remember. I have always been captivated by the enormous secrets she's hiding in her depths, and quite often weary by her. I knew a woman who was the same way, her soul an ocean, her eyes a deep blue sea that dragged me in its depths unbeknownst to me. And willingly I let myself be dragged by the currents of her charm. But that's the stuff for a later story.

what music now: coldplay's "X & Y"

2005-06-01T01:07:00.000-04:00

It doesn't matter how many times I listen to this, whether it's the bootleg live versions of some of their new CD's songs, or songs from the actual studio CD, I continue to be impressed by the artistry exhibited in some of the tracks. "White Shadows" must be one of the best songs they've written (although it's a bit reminiscent of U2's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

Let some of the lyrics do the talking:

When I was a young boy
I tried to listen
and I wanna feel like that
little white shadows
that sparkle and glisten
I'm part of a system plan

Do you ever feel like
there's something missing?
things you'll never understand
little white shadows that blink in the distance
part of a system plan

When all our fears are waking up
all the space they're taking up
I said I cannot hear you, you're breaking up

Or how about "What If":

What if I got it wrong
And no poem or song
Could put right what I got wrong
Or make you feel I belong
What if you should decide
That you don't want me there by your side
That you don't want me there in your life

Then there's "Talk" with that somewhat familiar opening guitar riff. Alright, so the opening does sound like Kraftwerk's "Computer Love", but the song is strong:

Under the great North star
Try to work out where you are
In the silence of the sea
I don't know where I'll be

In the future, in the past
Going nowhere... much too fast
When I go there, go with me
When I go there, go with me

Although the version of "Talk" I'm currently listening has different lyrics:

So you take a picture
of something you see
In your future
Where will I be?

So you don't know were you're going and you wanna talk
You feel like you're going where you've been before
Let's talk
Let's talk

Let's wait for the official CD to come out. In the meantime, enjoy the bits and pieces.

Love, Peace and Understanding

warning shots...

2005-05-24T09:30:00.000-04:00

...were fired right from the start last night at Roxy in Boston. Warning shots that the show was going to be hot!. Thievery Corporation took the stage for their last North American tour date before hitting Europe, and Eric Hilton and Rob Garza brought their eclectic mix of Jamaican reggae, Indian chanting, electronica, and Brazilian bossa nova into life with the help of a large band. The results may not have been as crystal clear as their recordings are, but the music had SOUL! And all the guest vocalists, veterans from TC's CDs delivered.

The night's playlist featured songs from every CD Thievery Corporation has put out, including 2005's "The Cosmic Game". The show's most lively moments were when the Brazilian singer (pictured on top) came on stage for her rendition of the songs previously featuring Bebel Gilberto on the CDs. She is as talented as good looking. Also, guest vocalist Sleepy Wonder (heard on "Warning Shots" and regular Notch brought the house down through numerous tracks including "Warning Shots", "The Richest Man in Babylon", and "The State of the Union".

A few more pictures:

Peace and Love

sunday...

2005-05-22T21:11:00.000-04:00

"Sunday was a bright day yesterday/
Dark cloud has come into the way"

So says Moby couple of CDs back. And man, was Sunday ever full of dark clouds! The threat of rain was everywhere; you could almost feel the crackle in the air, although the rain never came. So I spent the day walking around Boston, in the Public Garden to re-descover nature in the heart of the city, at Newbury Street and at Beacon Hill where I made a much-deserved stop at Sevens Pub for a bite and a Guinness, or two, or three...

Awww, ain't that a cute little critter?

Sevens pub is small, dark, and it has everything that a pub should have, Guinness on draught (or draft - whatever spelling you choose, it's still Guinness!). Great bunch of people working there, very friendly. Will probably visit again as their pub food selection is quite tasty.

Tomorrow night is the Thievery Corporation show and it promises to be a good one. The two DJs always manage to bring to life their samba, jazz- and world-influenced music to life with the help of a solid collection of live performers. More to follow after the show.

Love and Respect!

Nooorm...serotonin, and the crooked E

2005-05-21T18:08:00.000-04:00

Ah to be in New England! The home of the Patriots, the Bruins, and of course the Red Sox. The place where tea should be in fashion more than coffee, the place where not to own a boat, not to have gone to Harvard, and not to have a vacation home on Martha's vineyard all seem improbable. New England, the place that immortalised sitting on a stool in a dingy basement pub for hours upon hours drinking beer, and indulging a postman with his trivia instead of letting him, well, do his job and go postal.

By the way, I wonder what that Greek flag is doing in the background. Hmmm...

It's another rainy weekend here in Boston, imagine that! Funny how things work out, no? Relatively sunny and warm days during the week, only to have rain and cool winds over the weekend. I did manage to get in my 7-mile run along the Charles this morning though, before the rain came, and all that serotonin flowing through really made me feel better during the rest of this bleaky day.

A cup of coffee and reading for a bit at a cafe in the afternoon also made the trick. Except that I was reading The Smartest Guys In The Room - The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron, the most accurate account of what happened in that company. And how do I know that? Let's just say that I too fell for the illusion that was Enron, a carefully guarded, but not well constructed illusion. Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind have done what no other author who wrote about the despicable actions of those few individuals responsible for destroying the lives of so many have been able to do. I don't know if I can count myself in that same category as those guys. I would hope that I am smart, but I guess not that smart to really see the Enron culture for what it really was: an island of cut-throat, irresponsible competition amongst its own divisions, and even members of those divisions.

I picked up the book when it fist came out few years ago, and started reading it only to put it down in disgust as I was reminded of the ugliness that was prevalent there. Now, with the movie out, I felt compelled to finish it and put that sorry episode behind me once and for all.

The rest of the afternoon turned out better once I finished and put that book down. Virgin Radio helped a lot as well, while I continued to drink my coffee and finishing this post, especially as the DJ was playing Ultravox's "Vienna" and U2's "One".

Love and Respect

thievery corporation update

2005-05-20T08:58:00.000-04:00

Here's a tidbit from Thievery Corporation:

"Thievery Corporation continues to blur boundaries and defy genre labels. This weekend the group's Rob Garza and Eric Hilton will guest host MTV2's Sunday night "Subterranean" show, the successor to the famed "120 Minutes" and a launching pad for artists ranging from Franz Ferdinand to the Killers and everyone in between. The show airs on MTV2 on Sunday night at 12 midnight. For those of you unable to see it then, you can see it online at MTV2.com starting on Monday."

TC will be making an appearance at The Roxy in Boston on 5/23, and I will be posting my thoughts on their concert (and hopefully pictures) after that.

life is a minestrone

2005-05-17T09:11:00.000-04:00

Well, there you have it:

"Love is a fire of flaming brandy
Upon a crepe suzette
Let’s get this romance cooking, honey
But let us not forget
Life is a minestrone
Served up with parmesan cheese
Death is a cold lasagne
Suspended in deep freeze"

And that's that!

Let's see if anyone knows or remembers where this comes from, WITHOUT googling it.

The lyrics above came to mind while ruminating on the meaning of life, and also while I was listening to a relatively new band Thirteen Senses. Their debut CD, "The Invitation" is one of those CDs that is extremely listenable, with its piano melodies, epic guitar harmonies and vocal choruses. One may want to toss this band in the same category as Coldplay, The Perishers, Athlete, etc., but that would be too hasty. The music Thirteen Senses offers is inspired from another era which existed briefly during the 1970s. That was the time of the "Poor Man's Moody Blues", a.k.a. Barclay James Harvest, and Al Stewart's "The Year of The Cat". Check "Into The Fire", "Thru The Glass", "Gone", "Do No Wrong", and the almost pastoral "Automatic" as a fine representation of music with feeling.

what music now: coldplay

2005-05-15T16:27:00.000-04:00

Coldplay's latest CD,"X&Y", contains some gems, at least based on demos and live songs. One of them is "White Shadows", a song about getting back to the simplicity of youth. The other one is "Talk", one of the saddest songs I've heard about alienation and separation. I'm in the middle of creating a list of songs, to serve as my soundtrack to the movie Closer, and "Talk" will certainly be part of that. Of course, Damien Rice' "The Blower's Daughter" will be there also.

I wish those guys would lighten up a bit, but here are some of the lyrics from these two songs:

Talk
Under the great North Star
Try to work out where you are
In the silence of the sea
I don't know where I'll be

In the future, in the past
Going nowhere...much too fast
When I go there, go with me
When I go there, go with me

Cause I don't know where I'm going and I wanna talk
I feel like I'm going where I've been before
And I wanna talk

....

I tried but I can't get through
I'm trying to get to you
But you're difficult to reach
Won't you talk to me

White Shadows
When I was a young boy
I tried to listen
And I wanna feel like that
Little white shadows
Of sparkle and glisten
I'm part of a system plan

Do you ever feel like
There's something missing
Thinks you'll never understand
Little white shadows
Blinking and glisten
Part of a system plan

When all our fears are waking up
All the space they're taking up
So I cannot hear you breaking up

Maybe you got what you wanted
Maybe you stumbled upon it
Everything you ever wanted
In a permanent state
Maybe you got, it you see it
Maybe if you say it, you mean it
When you find that you keep me
In a permanent state ...a permanent

When I was a young boy
I tried to listen
I don't think I'll ever feel like that
Part of the human race
All of the stars and outer space
Part of the system plan

When all our fears are waking up
And all the space, they're taking up
I said I cannot hear you breaking up

Maybe you got what you wanted
Maybe you'll stumble upon it
Everything you ever wanted
In a permanent state
Maybe you got it, you see it
Maybe if you say it, you'll mean it
When you find that you keep me
In a permanent state ...a permanent state..

I swear I'm only seeing faces
Tired of the human races
Oh, answer now is what I need
See it in a new sun rising
See it breaking on your horizon
Oh, come on love, stay with me

cool toys...

2005-05-15T10:29:00.000-04:00

SanDisk has just unveiled a new MP3 player, both in 512MB and 1GB versions. The unique feature about this product, Sansa e100 is that it includes an SD slot for extra storage! The Sansa e100 is a flash-based MP3 player like SanDisk's tiny Digital Audio Player, and based on the popularity and ease of use of that product, this new player, at very competitive prices, will be hard to beat. The 1GB unit goes for $189.

Check here for complete specs Sansa e100.

words that touch the soul

2005-05-14T12:02:00.000-04:00

Baaba Maal's reply to some of the CDs I'm currently playing, gave me the idea of starting a section on favourite lyrics, snippets of lyrics or poems, quotes, which I'll call words that touch the soul.I'll set it up over the next few days, but for now let's use this space.

Since he started with a New Order song, "Regret", I'll stay in the spirit with "Turn" from their latest release. It speaks volumes to me, reminding me of past relationships, and also of valuable friendships that, although are now far away, will always remain with me.

Turn
It's a hard way to come home
You've got me on my knees
The walls are tumbling down
They're falling like the leaves

The days turned into months and years
I can't forget that you were here
I feel your presence everywhere
In the corner over there

Turn your eyes from me
It's time for me to go
Across the hills and over the sea
I want you more than you know

It's a wild world out there
And nobody gives a damn
In cold blood we don't care
And we don't want to understand

I'm sitting here alone at night
My sleepless eyes are open wide
What do you want me to say
What we had has gone away

The sky is high the road is long
Show me what I should have done
What do you want me to do
Take it all away from you

Turn your eyes from me
It's time for me to go
Across the hills and over the sea
I want you more than you know

what is...?

2005-05-12T17:15:00.000-04:00

I thought this would make a good start for a new post, as I'm always on a learning quest. Spring is in full force here in the Northeast. The sun is shining during the week, the grass is getting greener, trees are in full bloom (almost all of them), and then on the weekend...it rains! Neven mind that. You learn to appreciate the days of sunshine.

Couple of days ago I was running along the Charles, and was observing all these signs of new life when a thought came to me: "What IS life?". Black Uhuru sang "what is life? I tried to see/What is life? It's unity/What is life? I tried to feel/What is life? It's really real". How real is it though? (That begs another question also). So what is life? What are the criteria that define what life is? Let's start there and see where we go. All comments are welcomed.

what music now?

2005-05-11T16:14:00.000-04:00

Hot Hot Heat: "Elevator" This Canadian band is quite well known in college campuses around the U.S. from their previous indie release, the powerful "Make Up The Breakdown" which came out in 2003. Their newest release, "Elevator" finds them in familiar territory of great new wave influenced modern rock music with catchy melodies and lyrics. "Dirty Mouth" is my favourite song on this CD, and it confirms my belief that Hot Hot Heat have been listening to the Davies brothers' The Kinks a good deal. Not that this is a bad thing! "Goodnight, Goodnight" can be heard in many radio stations, while "Running Out Of Time", "You Owe Me An IOU", "Island Of An Honest Man", and "Elevator" will keep any party going.

Q Magazine describes M.I.A. as "Miss Dynamite". They're not off the mark at all. M.I.A. is actually London-based "Tamil Tigress" Maya Arul, and on her infectious debut CD, "Arular", she incorporates such diverse styles as dancehall, bhangra, and electro. There are comparisons to Missy Elliot, and there's the whole question as to whether some of the lines in her songs were intentionally chosen as a joke, ("Like PLO, I don't surrender") or whether they are just plain dumb. Still M.I.A. delivers a very listenable and entertaining, albeit ephemeral CD.

Niko: "Life On Earth" from GrandCentral Records
A strangely compelling recording. Niko has a strong voice, whether singing jazz, soul, hip hop or funk. Well worth the 10 GBP directly from GrandCentral.

Kate Rogers: "Seconds" from GrandCentral Records
Kate's collaborations with DJ and producer Aim from the same label as Niko are legendary, and her debut CD, "St. Eustacia" one of the best CDs I've heard this young decade. In this collection, Kate sings covers of some of her favourite artists, from The Smiths, to Neil Young, and the Pixies.

New Order: "Waiting for the Sirens' Call"
What can one say about NO's new CD? It is well crafted, with thoughtful lyrics. It's not very easy to pick favourite songs,but for now I'm spinning the title track, "I Told You So", "Hey Now What You Doing", "Dracula's Castle", "Guilt Is A Useless Emotion" and "Turn". These songs might not be "Bizarre Love Triangle", or "Regret", but I thank the group for still writing quality music!

Birthdays...

2005-05-09T23:09:00.000-04:00

Are they worth celebrating after your sixteenth birthday? What do they signify if not just the passage of time? I suppose once, long time ago, we used birthdays as the chance to evaluate our lives during the past year, reflect on what we did or didn't accomplish, and then make plans for the coming year. But now, with the institutionalization of New Year's Eve, we seem to have replaced the meaningful anniversary of our birth with the meaningless singing of Robert Burns' "Auld Lang Syne" (approximate translation for those not versed in Gaelic, "The Good Old Days").

Birthdays remind me of the fact that we are born spiritually incomplete and that our primary goal should be one of self analysis. Christopher Dewdney said it best: " Our primary goal as humans is to disentangle ourselves from our familial and socio-historical matrices until we are standing clear. Imagine not being absolutely sure about even the first two terms of Descarte's Cogito." Oh yeah. It was my birthday on Monday!

Peace and Love!

Rainy Days...part deux

2005-05-09T23:06:00.000-04:00

I have to post this, because Baaba Maal is always eloquent and I must admit I was carried away to Carter Road, for a moment, in his description of his youth in India.

Baaba Maal said...

Ask anyone from India, specifically from the western metropolis of Bombay (unfortunately referred to now as Mumbai) what rain means to them, and they will inevitably mention the months of June through mid- September which is the Monsoon season in southeast asia, and where the tropical rain is quite unlike its "drizzly and misty" meek London cousin. These are full on buckets of water as the heavens open, and even a two minute run to your car to get the dang door open can drench you and make you feel you just had a shower with your clothes on.

Nostalgia is what comes to my mind, as I am reminded of my early youth as I watched outside my bedroom window as the rains fell and tricked through the large mango tree outside the window and in the horizon over the tree tops in the adjoining park. A football game, the rough and thirsty seas on Juhu beach which almost always got a few foolish victims, a jog on Carter Road along the sea wall, and then when the rains stopped, the roadside vendor firing up the corn on the cob over a charcoal stove, the spicy ginger hot tea and vegetable pakoras with hot chutney, and walking outside in rubber flipflops. The moist and fresh air and the city looked refreshed after its first shower in nearly 9 months. The house is gone (a mall sprang up), the mango tree made way for the parking lot. The park remains, though very tamed and under private management, it has lost its wild forest like attraction. Juhu beach still atracts its hordes of beachgoers and perhaps a few foolish victims. And carter road and its vendors - they thrive and host a younger generation, even as my generation has moved on and scattered to all corners of this earth. Somehow, those magical moments will never ever be recreated for me.......

what's spinning at home and car?

2005-05-09T10:06:00.000-04:00

Athlete's Tourist, The Perishers' Let There Be Morning, Morrissey's Live at Earls Court

The Perishers hail from Sweden, and you would expect their music to sound the way music should sound when in comes from the land of Erik the Viking. Except that it sounds as if they have been keeping company with the likes of Coldplay, Athlete and Keane. Not that this is bad. Actually, The Perishers' songs are regularly features on American TV (The OC, One Tree Hill). Standouts include "Sway", "Weekends", "Trouble Sleeping", "My Heart" and "Pills". They can be seen on tour with Sarah McLachlan this summer. Brilliant!

Athlete, just like The Perishers, is unjustly compared to Coldplay and Keane all too often. There are definite similarities, enough indeed for someone to come up with a new description for this music. Perhaps Catatonic Rock would be a term, or perhaps a throwback to the 70s melodic rock days. On the opposite side, we have the post-punk bands emulating Joy Division/New Order. To its credit, the band does try to move beyond such comparisons. Not very successfully though. Just close your eyes when you listen to their new CD, Tourist, and signs of Coldplay are everywhere, from the opening track, "Changes", to the most obvious, "Trading Air". "Half Light" is what really Athlete should sound like most of the time. "Wires" is the obvious hit and first single of the CD, singer Joel Pott's story about his newborn daughter that's sure to touch many hearts. "Yesterday Threw Everything at Me" and "Twenty Four Hours" are also worth listening to.

Morrissey recorded this set last December at London's Earls Court, in top form from the success of his last studio release, "You Are The Quarry". The songs are chosen so as to highlight various parts of his career, from The Smiths' "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out", "Bigmouth Strikes Again", to the desolate beauty of "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me." Highly recommended to fans and casual listeners alike.

Honourable mention (with review to follow shortly): Hot Hot Heat, Kathleen Edwards, couple of the best acts coming out of Canada!

Rainy Days...

2005-05-07T16:19:00.000-04:00

...make me want to sit and contemplate life, read a book, listen to some good music, or just find a bookstore, the smaller the better, and browse up and down the aisles. And speaking of "isles", rainy days also make me wish I was on a sunny tropical or southern European island. At least I can sit at the coffee shop and contemplate about planning a trip to a sunny location.

There's something about bookstores that makes them compelling, especially on such days as this one. It's windy, rainy and cold and spending few hours inside a bookstore provides almost unparalleled cozy comfort. I wonder if it's all that accumulated knowledge on the shelves, all the stories the books contain in them, stories of faraway places and times. On such days we tend to think that even our lives could be better than this, that we can also escape to another place, step into another world. Or, it could be that on such days subconsciously we find ourselves inadequate and our knowledge of the world wanting. Thus, we flee to where that knowledge exists easily within our grasp, finding ourselves browsing the humanities and science tomes for that elusive something that could improve our existence. Or, we could just sit by the window and just watch the rain falling...

What Music Now?

2005-05-05T23:25:00.000-04:00

I'm starting a new section in the sidebar, called What Music Now? which is pretty self-explanatory. If you have any suggestions let me know, and I may include one or two. But for now, this is what's spinning at home and in the car:

Niko - "Life on Earth" (GrandCentral Records)
Kate Rogers - "Seconds" (GrandCentral Records)
New Order - "Waiting for the Sirens' Call" (WB)

Respect!

Is Buffett For Real?

2005-05-02T00:11:00.000-04:00

And I'm not talking about his decision to maintain his selling view on the U.S. dollar. That is indeed a sound investment decision, what with the growing U.S. deficits, both trade and budget. Myself and a number of other currency traders were betting against the greenback way back when, when the trade gap war around $40 bln. Now, with the goods and services gap being around $60 bln, Buffett's bet seem reasonable.

I am refering to his comments during Berkshire's recent shareholders' meeting, where he provided support for Hank Greenberge, the embattled ex-president and CEO of AIG. Mind you, the support came in the form of praise for Greenberg's ability to transfor AIG into the leading insurance company in the "property casualty business". But, at the same time one wonders what did Buffett say to the regulators (i.e. Elliot Spitzer) about AIG and Gen Re that started this whole thing off. Did a deal take place between Spitzer and Buffett, whereby in order to save Gen Re, Buffet would have to deliver AIG on a silver platter? We can only make suppositions and wait to see how General Re will fare at the end of Spitzer's investigation.

Happy First of May!

2005-05-01T23:23:00.000-04:00

Workers of the world unite! Does this motto have any credence any more? Do labour unions still represent their members, or are workers these days languishing in the comforts provided by their employers? Where are the demonstrations of yesteryear? With the upcoming elections in the U.K. will the voters re-elect Blair's Labour party, or will the Tories be successful in convincing the electorate to re-institute them to power?

Lest anyone here in North American think that May Day has lost its lustre, there were certainly numerous demonstrations in the streets of Europe during this international day of workers. In France, people were demonstrating against the EU constitution as opinion polls showed that the Non side had started to lose ground, as the referendum on Europe's constitution is approaching.FT.com

In Moscow, where in the "good old days" the Soviet Union would proudly display its once superpower might, people were marching for better working conditions, although the demonstrations were marred by radical violence. Yahoo News

For my part, as a young boy growing up in Europe, I used to associate May Day with spring, as my friends and I would hop on our bikes and ride out in the country. And to this day I still take a moment on this day to think about the coming of spring and summer, and where should I spend my summer vacation.

But seriously though, May 1st has become less politicised over the years and will eventually turn into the North American equivalent of the Labour Day in September, that one last chance for barbecue, visiting the cottage and enjoying the lake before the onset of winter.

For Those Who Think Jazz

2005-04-29T17:52:00.000-04:00

Sunil reminded me about the Montreal Jazz festival the other day. As the summer is getting closer, jazz music festivals will be abundant, from New Orlean's Jazz Fest, to the International Jazz Festival in Montreal, to the Newport festival, just to name a few. So here's a reminder of couple of these festivals with links to their respective webpages for the lineups.

Link

The Newport Jazz festival is one of my favourites, and although I have never been to it, I have enjoyed listening to various live recordings made over the years, including Miles Davis' 1958 live performance, and Stan Kenton among many. This time, being much closer to Newport than before, I plan to attend the September event and post reviews and pics from some of the events.

Link

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish

2005-04-25T23:25:00.000-04:00

During his recent concert in Boston, Moby asked those in the audience who had played with a 20-sided die to put their hand up. A few did, including couple of his band mates. As Moby went on to explain, if you knew what a 20-sided die was, then you were a geek, as you probably would have played the one game where such a die is used in, "Dungeons and Dragons" at some point during your youth.

Another example of supreme geekdom is knowing all the characters of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", a trilogy in four (or actually five) parts. Or knowing what was the answer to the meaning of life found in the Hitchhiker's trilogy. Ok, ok, it was "42". And the only reason I know is because I used to really like an 80's band, "Level 42".

Now, Douglas Adams' masterpiece of a comedic sci-fi story has been made into a movie. Before you think that Hollywood botched it again, according to the online guide, h2g2 (found on the links to the right), Adams always wanted to turn his stories into a movie, after having converted them to a BBC radio show, a BBC television show, a play, a computer game, etc. According to Adams' brother, the movie is bang on with the interpretation of the characters. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie when it comes out.

Once Upon A Time In Boston...

2005-04-25T00:08:00.000-04:00

...with apologies to Robert Rodriguez' movie. I just couldn't resist. I'll tell you what I mean shortly.

My third week in Boston came to a close Sunday night. I didn't get to explore much over the weekend as it rained for almost two days. But, I did get to unpack most of my boxes and fix up the apartment a little. It looks more and more like a place to call home.

I did manage to get out Saturday evening though, continuing to explore the neighbourhoods around Boston. After walking around Brookline's Coolidge Corner, checking out restaurants and other stores, I ended up resting my weary feet at Peet's Coffee and Tea, for a good cup of cappuccino, a little reading, and some net surfing courtesy of free Wi-Fi.

Sunday afternoon was a nice, mild one which called for a run along the river, from Watertown to Cambridge and back, admiring the blooming trees and other lovely parts of nature. Early evening I ended up at Firenze Trattoria. The restaurant occupies a small basement, with an authentic ambiance, as well as authentic home-style Tuscan recipes, and a very affordable wine list. And here comes the "Once Upon A Time In Mexico" part. After checking the menu and the daily specials, I decided to order the risotto special (pancetta and artichoke hearts). You have to realize that risotto is one of the hardest dishes to be consistent when preparing, as it is not a dish for the foolhardy to make. In my endless quest for the perfect risotto, whenever I got to Italian restaurants I try to sample their version. Alas, and to the cook's benefit, although this was a tasty treat, it was not perfect. Unlike Agent Sands, I did not have to restore balance by shooting the cook.

Peace and Love

Do Big Cities Need Defending?

2005-04-22T09:02:00.000-04:00

I found myself in a discussion last night that became hotter by the moment. On the one side there was a relatively recent "North American" and on the other side, moi!

The topic of this discussion was whether it's better to live in a big city like Boston, or in suburbia. My opponent's clear preference was for the 'burbs, although he had recently bought a condo in the outskirts of Boston. His dislike for anything "big city" stems for having worked for a large financial institution downtown. Picture cube after cube a la "Office Space" or that early scene where the agents paid Neo a visit at his office in "The Matrix", and you will have the general idea.

I sympathize with this view, as most of my working life, I have never worked in a cube. But, if his argument was based on only this observation, then it would be flawed. However, he continued to expand his view. What other things bothered him about a big city? Congestion. And he didn't refer to just traffic congestion and the lack of finding affordable parking (or parking in general), but also, the congestion when walking on the streets downtown. Hmmm...I guess he has never been to Hong Kong, or Tokyo, or even NYC, or New Orleans during Mardi Grass. What bothered him the most was the constant jostling when walking the streets, the fat, smelly people on the buses and trains, the beggars one runs into every other corner. Again, hmmmm...I guess you've seen "The Matrix" one too many times Agent Smith!

What did I have to say during his endless tirade? Well, I suppose I understand his point of view, although I don't agree with it. Don't get me wrong. I like the countryside, the trees, clean air and fields full of cows and horses. I see that every day I drive to work. And for years I lived in a small town outside a large metropolis in Canada. And every time I was driving home from my work downtown, I felt good. I felt good waking up to the sound of birds, being able to open my windows during the day and not worry about car pollution. But, every day when I was driving downtown, and would see the skyline getting closer, I would begin to feel alive. Why? Because there are so many things you can do in a large city. The fact alone that you can walk everywhere during most of the year, that the choices or restaurants, bookstores, clothing stores, entertainment in general are so abundant, that fact alone is enough, at least for me, to love big cities.

I'm writing these lines while I'm sitting at a cafe by the window, watching an endless stream of people walking by, coming in for a coffee, going in and out of the restaurants and the movie theatre across the street. The city is just so alive!

I won't say anything more. I don't have to defend big cities for being harsh, unforgiving and heartless. After all, suburbs are equally as heartless with their vastness and isolation, where people occupy houses on large properties and don't even know their neighbours. I will let the big cities defend themselves as they continue to reinvent themselves every few years or so. After all, you can't have too much of a good thing - big city or suburb.

Thievery Corporation North America Tour Dates

2005-04-20T09:57:00.000-04:00

For those of you interested in Thievery Corporation, here's the updated list of their North American Live Tour. I'm looking forward to seeing the spinning their music, much like they did in Atlanta couple of years ago:

5/05:@ 4th and B, San Diego, CA
5/06:@ The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA
5/08:@ The Warfield, San Francisco, CA
5/09:@ Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
5/10: @ The Premier, Seattle, WA
5/11: @ The Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
5/15: @ The Quest, Minneapolis, MN
5/16: @ The Vic Theater, Chicago, IL
5/17: @ Majestic Theater, Detroit, MI
5/18: @ Carlu, Toronto , ONT
5/19: @ Le Spectrum, Montreal , QUE
5/20: @ Spirit, New York, NY
5/23: @ The Roxy, Boston, MA

Moby @ The Avalon: Mini-Review

2005-04-17T23:40:00.000-04:00

Moby's concert on Saturday night at the Avalon in Boston was one of the best live shows I've seen since Yanni --kidding! Moby rocked the house for two non-stop hours, playing mostly from 1999's Play and this year's Hotel, tinged with some dance, or as he called them "disco" or "boogie" songs. With help from his band and Laura Dawn's skillful vocal talents, Moby, in a way, reinterpreted most of his classic songs from Play, adding the tempo and power that a casual listener cannot really attain from the current recording CD technology. The Hotel songs came out especially well, mostly because Laura Dawn was able to really let loose. I think my favourite songs from the night were "That's when I reach for my Revolver", "Next Is The E", "Where You End", "Natural Blues", and "Bodyrock". Heck, the whole night was great!

Concert Playlist:
MY WEAKNESS (INTRO)
EXTREME WAYS
RAINING AGAIN
FIND MY BABY
SPIDERS
NATURAL BLUES
WHERE YOU END
GO
TEMPTATION
BEAUTIFUL
VERY
NEXT IS THE E
PORCELAIN
DREAM ABOUT ME
SOUTHSIDE
WE ARE ALL MADE OF STARS
SLIPPING AWAY
HONEY
WHY DOES MY HEART FEEL SO BAD
BODY ROCK
LIFT ME UP
WALK ON THE WILDSIDE
FEELING SO REAL

Is It Really Worth It?

2005-04-16T12:26:00.000-04:00

Is it really worth it? I don't know yet. It certainly has the look, and it is comfortable. Some friends had this chair in their living room some years back in T.O., and it was a good piece of conversation during their parties. They did used to have a cord all around it though. I suppose to prevent us from sitting on it. That didn't stop the cat though!

Greek Parade Pics

2005-04-16T12:24:00.000-04:00

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

2005-04-15T17:35:00.000-04:00

I haven't had a chance to get my hands around how to get pictures into my blog as yet. But I will do over the weekend and the I'll post some pics from the parade, among others.

Boston It Is Part 2

2005-04-15T01:08:00.001-04:00

Well, we are almost at the end of my second week in Boston and I must admit, I will miss Atlanta. I just returned from there, after spending a day with the moving crew that will bring all my stuff to Boston. And that is a good thing, because my Boston apartment does not feel like home as yet, without my books, CDs, stereo, etc. Besides, sleeping on an air mattress is getting really old.

I'm not sure I like moving anymore. It makes me take stock of my life and I've been doing this all too often lately. I have realized that I accumulate too many things, that I am tied to these things and don't want to part with them. And I don't like that. I don't like feeling so dependent on accumulated objects. I do want to have few nice, even prized possessions, but that's about it. Everything else seems to be superfluous. Sunil, what do the Hindus say man? I know what Buddha says, and I know what Mohammed and Jesus say about earthly possessions. I still need some light though.

Anyway, too heavy. Let's get on to some fun stuff. My first week in Boston was good. There are times when I'm driving around, going to the office (which is far from being Boston, and I'm sure I will feel different when winter's snow storms arrive in time), or just walking around, that I feel that I belong here. At least for the next little while. Darn, I need to find a new hairdresser too!

Alrighty then! So, my first Saturday in Boston I spent getting lost driving around, trying to find my way. In other words, familiarize myself with the terrain. I woke up early, went downstairs to the gym for a short workout, and then went running on the path along Charles River. Darn! I didn't know how long it was. I did 5 miles before I realized how far I was. Of course, if it weren’t for all those lovelies on that fine day, I wouldn't have gone that far. Then I had to take my sore ass back, and that wasn't pleasant. But I came to the realization that if I were to do a marathon (maybe Boston next year), I would be bored to TEARS after 10 miles or so!!! There better be some good bait dangling in front of me mate!

Driving around was mostly pleasant, even when getting lost. Now I know of at least three different ways of driving from Watertown to Marlborough. And I also know that getting lost in Allston isn't fun. Cambridge on the other hand, I have to do by foot this coming weekend. It looked cool when I drove through it. It's just a bitch trying to get to the Mass Pike from there. Tad, I want to thank you for helping me choose a location to stay. Watertown is so close to everything.

Sunday was such a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the Greeks were walking. Really, a perfect day for the annual Greek Independence parade through downtown Boston. The actual date of the celebration, the time Greeks kicked Turkish butt, is on the 25th of March, but the Greek community decided to have it on Sunday, April 10th. The parade started at 1:00 pm and went along Boylston to Charles where it ended at the park. I didn't see much of the parade, as at first I couldn't find my way around and got lost in South Boston. Nice area, upcoming, with lots of expensive shops, restaurants and overpriced condos. And home of the alternative lifestyle! Those from Atlanta, please refer to Ansley down towards Piedmont Park and you've got the idea. I'm glad I found my way back to where the parade was taking place though!

On the other hand, I did find a very nice furniture store in South Boston called Design Within Reach (I had briefly ran through the one in ATL). Before you say, "All right, Nick! You found a cheap design-furniture store", actually, "Within Reach" means really expensive furniture from the Modernist and Post-Modernist era (John P., Sunil, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about), manufactured somewhere in the Netherlands, but warehoused in the U.S. I don't think I will be paying mucho dinero no matter who originally designed the frigging piece! Well, maybe a table and lamp won't hurt a lot. Keep in mind Nick, "few nice, even prized possessions".

Back to the parade for a moment, and then it's time to sign off. It's been some time since I've seen so many Greeks concentrated in one area outside of Athens, Greece. It reminded me for a moment of Danforth Ave. in Toronto, where Little Greece is. All I could hear when I was walking around was Greek. But, unfortunately or not, this lasted only until the parade was over and the festivities in the park finished. I'm not sure if Boston has a concentrated Greek area like Toronto, NYC or Chicago, but that's all right. Familiarity breeds contempt after all. Well, I continued my walking around that part of Boston, where a bunch of restaurants and some really fine shopping exist. I ended up recovering a little from all my walking inside the Prudential Center, at Barnes & Noble's for a good cup of cappuccino and some relaxing browsing before heading back home.

This coming Saturday, it's off to Avalon to see Moby in concert. I can't wait! His new CD rocks. Molly, I'm sending you a copy, no matter what. Leigh, I'm sorry you will miss him, but you never know.

I miss some of you in DC and Atlanta. You know who you are. I wish we were all in the same place. You have been an inspiration to me, and you will continue to be.

Till then,

Peace and Love.