It all started one morning when I found the video for “Airplanes” on MTV. Once it was finished I flipped over to VH1 (which I do from time to time in the mornings), and sure enough they were now playing “Airplanes” too. Since then the chorus has only left my mind for short bursts of time replaced by La Roux’s “Bulletproof”. Sadly no song on the album is nearly as catchy as the previously mentioned “Airplanes”, though there are some decent other tracks; including “The Kids” and “Magic” (which features Rivers Cuomo from Weezer for some reason), but none of them can touch “Airplanes”.
Listening to Drake is a strange experience as I’ve known him for about a decade. No, I don’t actually know him in the sense that I could call him up to hang out, but I feel like I know him from watching him on Degrassi: The Next Generation, where for about 8 years he played Jimmy Brooks, the basketball star that was gunned down by a school shooter and bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He found out he could totally lay down some rhymes and became an artist. Life became art and vice versa when he was “let go” from Degrassi and became the household name he is now. Bonus points for his 2009 injury that almost left him like his Degrassi alter ego without the ability to walk.
I’ve been a big supporter of The Gaslight Anthem since their last album, The ‘59 Sound made it’s way into my head. Though still brutally honest in the lyrical content of American Slang, some of the punch has been lost as the songs seem too personal (referring to divorce constantly) instead of being universal themes that everyone can relate to (love and death namely). Don’t get me wrong though, the album is very good (hence why I’m constantly listening to it), it’s just that I wish the album meant more to me than it does.
It’s really strange to me that the Arcade Fire is now an “old” band. They now have 3 full lengths under their belt, have been around for nearly a decade, and have the adoration of almost any reader of Pitchfork. The problem is that none of the adoration is undeserved. Every album that Arcade Fire puts out is better than the last and The Suburbs is no different. The underlying tension and paranoia that seem to be at the center of every song they’ve ever put out shines in this album with references to wars and bombs falling, metaphors for life in the suburbs and a fear of the future that future generations may end up inheriting. That, or I’m completely off base and don’t know what they’re talking about.
If there was a song that I was forced to listen to every single day this summer, I would pick “The Pursuit of Happiness” as that song. It is nearly perfect in every way and the fact that it features MGMT and Ratatat is only the icing on the cake. From the hip-hop choices I’ve made on this list, I feel very confident that hip-hop is going into one of those renaissance situations where lyrics will actually matter and we may be done with some of the auto-tuned nonsense. “The Pursuit of Happiness”is a perfect example of this with its sarcastic drone of “it’s all in the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shines ain’t always gonna be gold”. Whatever gets your through the day I suppose.
[update]…I almost forgot to mention that any of these items are available for checkout at the library. Click on any title that’s linked and you’ll be taken to the library’s page where you can request it be held for you.
By Jake (
August 31, 2010 at 4:21 pm)
· Filed under Games, News, Music
It’s official; both Guitar Hero and Rock Band have the full setlists for their new games online. Guitar Hero went the press release route and Harmonix went for the information contained within a joke. They also name dropped some sites who were spreading disinformation. Regardless both setlists look amazing, with a few notable “I’m only playing this song so I can beat the game” songs in there (I’m looking at you Nickelback and Amy Winehouse).
Now before anyone gets too excited and/or starts spouting fanboy fervor, cross referencing these lists shows one game stealing from the other and vice versa.
The addition of the keyboard to Rock Band is either good or bad depending on how you feel about keyboards in general. It will surely make certain songs more exciting with a full band (Bohemian Rhapsody, Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, Just Like Heaven, etc…), while other songs won’t even use the instrument which makes it hard to justify buying it.There’s also the issue of needing to have a (much) larger screen in order to see all 10 parts of the note highway for the keyboard. All in all, it’s a moderately welcomed change and I’ll definitely enjoy playing The Power of Love on both vocals and keyboard (at the same time).
Standout tracks:
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations Live (You’ll have everything in this song including awesome harmonies, some wicked keyboards and high pitched Mike Love singing)
David Bowie - Space Oddity (This is the song to bring the house down [along with Bohemian Rhapsody])
The Vines - Get Free (cheap choice, but it’s fast, loud and will force you yell into the microphone for 2 straight minutes)
Ida Maria - Oh My God or Rilo Kiley - Portions for Foxes (The girls I know always complain about not having enough to sing. This Rock Band seems to remedy that pretty well with a wide range of voices and more male fronted songs that the ladies can hit pretty easily)
On the other end, Guitar Hero (officially sub-titled Warriors of Rock) hasn’t really changed much this time around. New songs, with the same formula: you start a band and do well. If you win you’ll be treated to a complete play through of Rush’s album 2112. Depending on how you feel about Rush this is either awesome or eight kinds of pain. The track list for GH has a more fast paced, arcadey feel (even though there are 10 more songs in GH than in RB).
Standout Tracks:
Poison - Unskinny Bop (It’ll be fun, plus you can pretend that Bret Michaels never turns into the balding bachelor on VH1)
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants (Epically crazy if done right. If done wrong, you’ll look lame)
R.E.M. - Losing My Religion (Not the most difficult song, but anyone can enjoy trying to be Michael Stipe every now and again, plus bonus flailing arms).
No matter which game you decide to go with (I think I’m going with Rock Band 3 in order to avoid the previously mentioned Nickelback track), I think we all know who really wins in either of these games…
We just received a giant load of new books. Before they go on the shelf I thought I’d let you know what showed up.
Also; I wanted to take this opportunity to say hello and introduce myself. Some of you may have seen me wandering the second floor with a confused look on my face, or perusing the graphic novels hoping to find some Captain America I haven’t already read. The name’s Jake and I’ll be posting here as regularly as they’ll let me. Feel free to join the conversation and comment down below. If you want to leave a book, movie, or music review, click on the link in the upper left, If you’re looking for something specific not on this front page, check out the links on the right, and if I’m missing something everyone should know about, let me know; I’m willing to admit mistakes.
PS: I know that the dogfail banner picture has nothing to do with the topic at hand, but if you look at the last of the four images and you’re not instantly smiling… Then I have no answer for you but to look at it again.
Fish Sand Art Magnets. Four words that don’t usually go together?
Unless you’re talking about our DIY Teen Tuesday craft for July.
Join us this Tuesday(July 20th) at 2 pm on the second floor of the library where we’ll be making Fish Sand Art Magnets that you can hang on your fridge, in your lockers or just about anywhere that a magnet will stick.
We supply the materials, you bring the creativity.
By Rona (
May 17, 2010 at 3:46 pm)
· Filed under Programs
Summer Reading Program Kick Off
Saturday, May 29
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Main Library – 1st Floor Café
Come sign up for the Teen Summer Reading Program and listen to local teen musician, Nicholas Harley, and friends perform live music and read original poetry. Free program.
By Rona (
March 9, 2010 at 2:29 pm)
· Filed under Programs
Saturday, March 13
12:00p.m. – 2:00p.m.
Main Library – 1st Floor Cafe
Come celebrate Teen Tech Week with us! This year’s theme is Learn, Create, Share. Listen to local teen musician, Nicholas Harley, and friends perform original music. Also, check out art created by teens. Free program. For ages 12-18.
It all started one morning when I found the video for “Airplanes” on MTV. Once it was finished I flipped over to VH1 (which I do from time to time in the mornings), and sure enough they were now playing “Airplanes” too. Since then the chorus has only left my mind for short bursts of time replaced by La Roux’s “Bulletproof”. Sadly no song on the album is nearly as catchy as the previously mentioned “Airplanes”, though there are some decent other tracks; including “The Kids” and “Magic” (which features Rivers Cuomo from Weezer for some reason), but none of them can touch “Airplanes”.
Listening to Drake is a strange experience as I’ve known him for about a decade. No, I don’t actually know him in the sense that I could call him up to hang out, but I feel like I know him from watching him on Degrassi: The Next Generation, where for about 8 years he played Jimmy Brooks, the basketball star that was gunned down by a school shooter and bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He found out he could totally lay down some rhymes and became an artist. Life became art and vice versa when he was “let go” from Degrassi and became the household name he is now. Bonus points for his 2009 injury that almost left him like his Degrassi alter ego without the ability to walk.
I’ve been a big supporter of The Gaslight Anthem since their last album, The ‘59 Sound made it’s way into my head. Though still brutally honest in the lyrical content of American Slang, some of the punch has been lost as the songs seem too personal (referring to divorce constantly) instead of being universal themes that everyone can relate to (love and death namely). Don’t get me wrong though, the album is very good (hence why I’m constantly listening to it), it’s just that I wish the album meant more to me than it does.
It’s really strange to me that the Arcade Fire is now an “old” band. They now have 3 full lengths under their belt, have been around for nearly a decade, and have the adoration of almost any reader of Pitchfork. The problem is that none of the adoration is undeserved. Every album that Arcade Fire puts out is better than the last and The Suburbs is no different. The underlying tension and paranoia that seem to be at the center of every song they’ve ever put out shines in this album with references to wars and bombs falling, metaphors for life in the suburbs and a fear of the future that future generations may end up inheriting. That, or I’m completely off base and don’t know what they’re talking about.
If there was a song that I was forced to listen to every single day this summer, I would pick “The Pursuit of Happiness” as that song. It is nearly perfect in every way and the fact that it features MGMT and Ratatat is only the icing on the cake. From the hip-hop choices I’ve made on this list, I feel very confident that hip-hop is going into one of those renaissance situations where lyrics will actually matter and we may be done with some of the auto-tuned nonsense. “The Pursuit of Happiness”is a perfect example of this with its sarcastic drone of “it’s all in the pursuit of happiness and I know everything that shines ain’t always gonna be gold”. Whatever gets your through the day I suppose.
Saturday, March 13
Tuesday, February 9
