What I'm listening to...

I haven't been listening to very much new music these days, I'm more the type of person to savor and live in my songs for a while, but this new, bombastic gem kept me satiated for days. I'm a big Muse fan, they are an acquired taste with their over-the-top style, roaring guitars, and Matt Bellamy's thrice octave voice that both melts my face off and makes me laugh when I hear it. I know girls who cannot reach some of the notes he does, and I'm in a Catholic Church choir, so that's saying something. Let me take a stroll through the tracks...

1. "Supremacy" - A classic Muse romp about overthrowing big government with all three players in full force, personally my favorite moment of this song is Matt singing the word "fantasy".
2. "Madness" - This song is the chocolate ice cream of songs, so hot, and that wonky bass, yes please.
3. "Panic Station" - Well hello 1985, fancy meeting you here, slap that bass and give me another dose of horn section.
4-5. "Prelude" "Survival" - This was the official song of the Olympics and I was enraged when the American media chose to ignore it and play their own stuff. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!??!! This song is amazing, it makes me want to punch someone and run a marathon!!! Simultaneously!!!
6. "Follow Me" - This is the sweetest and most uplifting song, Matt recently became a father with Kate Hudson and that strange beat you hear at the beginning is his son's heartbeat. I think any child would be thrilled to hear that when things get tough his father wants nothing more than for him to follow him and be brave.
7. "Animal" - This sounds like Muse's attempt at a Radiohead song to me.
8. "Explorers" - A cry out for freedom, in the end we all cry out for someone to save us.
9. "Big Freeze" - Loud and fun.
10. "Save Me" - Chris (the bass player) would seldom talk in interviews up to this point then low and behold he volunteers to write and sing a few songs, a huge smile spread across my face when his soft voice started. Beautiful, and a reprieve from Matt's power.
11. "Liquid State" - Another from Chris, very good.
12. "The 2nd Law: Unsustainable" - Awww yeah, throw a newscaster, an orchestra, and a dash of dubstep and voila!! Now let's go save the world.
13. "The 2nd Law: Isolated System" - a fitting cool down from all of that awesome, and some quick-change choir moves!

I love my job

So, once in a while my boss is too busy for some of the minor photo shoots for our magazine, so I get the pleasure of taking charge. We recently acquired a new client, an antique store/appraisal service business. They obtain some really unique items including this original Matisse, he would lithograph the lines on the paper and then paint atop that. It's not everyday you get to view a real Matisse, unless you work in a museum of course. I didn't even ask the price but it probably equaled my salary ha ha! Check it out along with other cool items at Sparrow Studio Antiques on Prospect.

Media junky

I don't watch every new movie that comes out and I rarely go to the theater, so I get them as they trickle down to our local library, but I almost always have one playing while I'm at home working on projects and such. I savor my cinema. Last night I finally watched The King's Speech, it was fantastic. Though I geeked out a little when I noticed that the original Mr. Darcy, Ms. Bennett, and Mr. Collins were on screen-- it was like a mini Pride & Prejudice reunion. The acting was spot on, the cinematography was uniquely gorgeous--the backgrounds were almost as interesting as the actors, and the portrayal of London in the 1930s was delicious. I would recommend this movie to anyone who has ever felt embarrassed by their shortcomings.

Back from Cali

Sorry about my absence from the blog, I spent the better part of last week visiting family in California. It was a wonderfully luxurious trip, and I feel really spoiled by my aunts and uncles. Santa Ana is beautiful and it was a lovely extension of summer! Lots of thrifting, eating, laughing, and walking along the beach :) When was the last time you have been in the ocean? It had been 12 years for me.