en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices kyoto_tig's Last.fm Journal http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal The Last.fm journal for kyoto_tig. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. Abnormally Attracted to Sin http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2009/05/17/2qco7y_abnormally_attracted_to_sin Sun, 17 May 2009 21:29:22 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2009/05/17/2qco7y_abnormally_attracted_to_sin i will not reveal my source, but thursday night someone was kind enough to pass me a copy of Tori Amos' new album Abnormally Attracted to Sin, out in stores on May 19th. it wasn't until yesterday that i had opportunity to hear it, but i feel it was worth the wait.

so glad her time with Epic Records is through, seems as though they may have had a bit of a hand in her musical decline? -i will say that this album made up for the flop that was The Beekeeper in ways that American Doll Posse (though an album i did like) could not.

my review, song by song:

Give - instantly in love with the programming and arrangement of this song. very ambient, and the best part is that it told me the tori that experiments with her sound is back. love the ranges she takes her voice to, what she does with the guitars. this one was an instant favourite.

Welcome to England - i was fortunate to hear this song for the first time back in march from a radio station in austin, tx (i do not listen to the radio, so for me that's a big deal). as far as arrangements go, i think it would fit well with Scarlet's Walk. the lyrics are a bit subpar for tori standards, but she still sings it well. i would have liked it had she put a real string arrangement instead of the synth strings, but she is a piano player first and foremost so i will let that one slide. i'd rate this song as a C+, not the best on the album, but it isn't so terrible that it should be confined to a b-side.

Strong Black Vine - Wow! more experimentation, an orchestral piece (with real strings, yay!), a message sung with passion. definitely a song that's going to get a lot of play on my radio. only complaint is that it didn't last long enough.

Not Dying Today - so far she's got some very strong intros and arrangements in this album. love the heavy drum beats, and the backup guitars in the chorus. she spits out the lyrics in a lovely flow that brings to mind some of my favourite classic rock musicians, though the song itself is modern in its own way. the end of the chorus is a bit repetitious, but forgivable.

Flavor - brings back a little bit of the classic tori, or at least pre-epicrecords tori. think it would work well on To Venus and Back. the lyrics are gorgeous, the way she sings it so ambiant. i fell in love with this song instantly, and i can see myself using some of the lyrics as myspace stats or blog entry titles =) just beautiful.

Maybe California - it makes me think a little of Mrs. Jesus pt.2, once again real strings (yay!), nice variation. the song does go a bit too slow, so it is one i would have to be in the mood to listen to.

Curtain Call - adore the intro, though i don't really feel the rest of the song lives up to what those first few seconds promise. the lyrics don't really do it for me, i don't get the impression that she put as much of her heart into it as she usually done. in my opinion, this belongs in the land of b-side Nod.

Fire to Your Plain - more musical experimentation. i love the arrangement, and the lyrics compliment it rather nicely. while i wouldn't give it a shiny gold star (bronze), it would make a great radio single.

Police Me - don't hate the song, but i think it would work better as a b-side. the arrangements are absolutely wonderful, but the lyrics do drag it down a little bit.

That Guy - oh i absolutely adore the arrangement on this song! but it is the same as Police Me, the lyrics don't fit in with the musical arrangement. would be better as a b-side.

Abnormally Attracted to Sin - ah, what does the title track have to say? the musical arrangement is a bit psychedelic, her voice is beautiful, the lyrics wonderful. the second verse is a bit jarring, but barring that the song is amazing.

500 Miles - needs to be banished to the land of b-side Nod. just, no. i listened to it a few times for fair chance, but i'm not digging it. maybe just as an instrumental, but i can't even say it would work that way either.

Mary Jane - how very cabaret! love the way she flows through the lyrics, and the piano is utterly exquisite. it makes me think of her song Murder, He Says from the Mona Lisa Smile soundtrack, mostly because they run with the same era's sound. love it, gold star.

Starling - love the sound effects, the music arrangement. can see myself putting this one on repeat a time or two, makes me think of country nights. the rolling drums are a lovely touch, complimenting the lyrics and her range. Seems as though a few people dislike the bridge, but i rather adore the shift in mood and think it fits the song well. i think it makes for a wonderful variation. this song does get a gold star.

Fast Horse - great music arrangement, more of those rolling drums. voice effects i'd give a thumbs up. i do, however, think this would work better as a b-side.

Ophelia - haunting piano melody, beautiful lyrics, the variation an exquisite compliment to the mood of the song. love that she used Shakespeare's beloved ophelia to bring about her own thoughts and passions. definite gold star.

Lady in Blue - what a gorgeous arrangement, how beautiful it is. the ambiance of the song is haunting, though relaxing in its own way. i can see myself drifting off to sleep to this song, having lovely dreams of a lady in blue that will bring me many stories to come.
=============================================

my overall rating of the album is an A. classic tori isn't back -but then she's a different person now- but it is refreshing to have an album that experiments with sound, holds its passion, speaks for itself, and isn't weighed down with filler. yay to tori ~.^]]> top fifteen http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/10/29/28xjrb_top_fifteen Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:57:15 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/10/29/28xjrb_top_fifteen swiped from Kecharitomene

What song you heard first?
What song made you fall in love with this band/artist?
What song is your current favourite?

1. Emilie Autumn
First song: I Want My Innocence Back
Made you fall in love: Dominant
Current Fave: Hollow Like My Soul

2. The Birthday Massacre
First song: The Nighttime Loop
Made you fall in love: Looking Glass
Current Fave: Movie

3. Nine Inch Nails
First song: Head Like a Hole
Made you fall in love: Terrible Lie
Current Fave: Fragile

4. Rasputina
First song: Transylvanian Concubine
Made you fall in love: Signs of the Zodiac
Current Fave: The New Zero

5. Cranes
First song: Golden
Made you fall in love: Thursday
Current Fave: Wish

6. Tori Amos
First song: Bells for Her
Made you fall in love: Caught a Lite Sneeze
Current Fave: Black Dove (January)


7. The Dø
First song: The Bridge is Broken
Made you fall in love: The Bridge is Broken
Current Fave: Travel Light

8. Hayley Jane
First song: Video Games & Porn
Made you fall in love: To Serve My God & My Country
Current Fave: In the Dollhouse

9.Tristania
First song: The Ravens
Made you fall in love: The Ravens
Current Fave: Lotus

10. Darling Violetta
First song: Angel Theme Song
Made you fall in love: Beautiful
Current Fave: Bardot Barbiturate

11. Britney Spears
First song: ...Baby One More Time
Made you fall in love: Stronger
Current Fave: Piece of Me


12. XTC
First song: Dear God
Made you fall in love: Summer's Cauldron
Current Fave: Dear Madam Barnham

13.Toadies
First song: Possom Kingdom
Made you fall in love: Tyler
Current Fave: I Burn

14. Eels
First song: Novocaine for the Soul
Made you fall in love: P.S. You Rock My World
Current Fave: Climbing to the Moon

15. Hannah Fury
First song: Carnival Justice (The Gloves are Off) Pt. II
Made you fall in love: Carnival Justice (The Gloves are Off) Pt. II
Current Fave: Defenestration]]> EMILIE AUTUMN to make guest contribution on SAW V soundtrack http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/10/29/28xi51_emilie_autumn_to_make_guest_contribution_on_saw_v_soundtrack Wed, 29 Oct 2008 03:09:45 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/10/29/28xi51_emilie_autumn_to_make_guest_contribution_on_saw_v_soundtrack news source: http://music.ign.com/articles/923/923859p1.html

==

saw iii - Organ Grinder
saw iv - Dead Is the New Alive (Velvet Acid Christ Club Mix)
saw v - Unlaced

==

When I first saw the trailer for SAW V the first thought that popped in my mind was "what song is Emilie Autumn going to contribute?"

forget the movies, I felt that should've stopped at SAW II. But I do adore Emilie Autumn, and being the indie artist that she is, the movie franchise has helped put her name in stores (being that those were the only ones i could ever find in the stores) so regularly checking sources made me happy to find that she will once again be featured.

I also find it very awesome that the songs she has contributed all happen to be from the first three albums I bought by her.
=) (=]]> Hurricane Ike: Weathering the Storm http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/09/15/261ghd_hurricane_ike:_weathering_the_storm Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:19:04 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/09/15/261ghd_hurricane_ike:_weathering_the_storm Sent in bulk / x-posted to livejournal & myspace

Greetings,

As many of you know, we weathered out Hurricane Ike at home this weekend. We’ve had our power back on since yesterday afternoon and the madness has calmed down enough to give us a chance to sit down and take a breath.

We fared alright here in Cypress. Aside from an unfortunate few, there was little structural property damage around the immediate area. Many trees and fences were lost, some broken, though mostly through uprooting.

Fortunately our unit is next to a water tower so we never lost water (even had hot water the whole time). Phone lines are still acting wonky (though the internet is fine, go figure *L*). We got a window pane a bit bent out of shape, causing a bit of leakage, but fortunately it is minimal. The fish and turtles fared well, though there was a guppy fatality =(. The cat hid in the closet through most of the day, and joined the party outside to watch once the bands started coming in. She seemed to enjoy it, fascinated by it =). The friends that stayed with us are doing okay as well, we are helping clean up their damage the best we can.

For those who had to weather the storm, I wish you nothing but the best and hope you didn’t take too much of a hit. I’m keeping a sporadic eye on the news to watch out for the power grids, and hope power is restored to y’all soon. Take good care of yourselves and be careful driving on the dark street.

Some Mood Music: Dominant//Emilie Autumn]]> the birthday week http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/05/11/fdr4i_the_birthday_week Sun, 11 May 2008 17:00:57 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/05/11/fdr4i_the_birthday_week i just found Avril Lavigne's Under My Skin in my archives, and i honestly don't remember obtaining it. or ever listening to it. or anything of that sort. oh, well, for all intents and purposes, it's a free album. and i never turn that down. not really in an avril mood right now, though.

---------------------------

my birthday was last saturday and i went up to a friend's lakehouse and we revelled in our debauchery. i fixed two fishing poles and went fishing for awhile. didn't catch anything, save for a branch (twice) and a sunburn. the fish bite better at night anyway. and i got plenty of music, of course =)

1.Neil Young's Harvest Moon for my boyfriend, and we jammed out to it as he played civilization 3. me like, but prefer the older stuff.

2.The Birthday Massacre - Looking Glassep. the new songs include an instrumental called Nowhere (which sounds very much like the nightloop/bg music on nothingandnowhere.com), Shiver, and a cover of I Think We're Alone Now, as well as four remixes for three songs off Walking With Strangers (my favourite being the space lab mix of Red Stars), and of course the title track.

3. 4. also got two more albums by Emilie Autumn
Laced/Unlaced ~ total violin. first half baroque, second half electric. i've listened so far only to the second half and me love. also got the double feature ep Liar/Dead Is the New Alive aside from the title tracks, i've not heard it yet. but it is something to look forward to.

5. got the new Nine Inch Nails album, The Slip because trent is not human, he is composed of awesomeness to put out as much as he has as of late. and trent was kind enough to give it to us free on his official site, and i love him for that too.

6. 7. and a friend was kindly enough to give me a copy of Radiohead's In Rainbows, which i love (to be 100% honest i haven't really gotten into a Radiohead album since Pablo Honey, but i do love that one) and Tool's 10,000 Days, which i am listening to right now.

8. and of course, the surprise Avril Lavigne. so i'd say it was a pretty good week =)]]> reverie http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/03/11/fdqzg_reverie Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:37:44 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/03/11/fdqzg_reverie i'm getting a decent tax return this year, so i'll be able to make it to see The Birthday Massacre after all. hopefully there will be tix left when i get the chance to buy them. i'll even have a little extra to get their new ep, which is coming out around the same time they pay their visit.

*cheers*

to my disappointment i found out that the moe. concert fell through. i thought the significant other had already bought the tix, he talked about them like he did, and i find out today that no tickets were bought. a disappointment, yes, but they are a band i have seen live before, so at least i'm not deprived. the Roger Waters concert fell through as well. had a choice between him and The Birthday Massacre, chose the latter because smaller venue, and tix wouldn't break me.

so it will be a lacking concert season, at least for the first half, but the austin city limits festival is still on the table, and who knows what the other half of the year could bring.]]> sweetness http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/02/21/fdqwh_sweetness Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:07:42 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/02/21/fdqwh_sweetness i've spent most of the day going through my stack of unmarked audio mixed cd's and i've found ten blank cdr's. very nice.

i've also found several tracks that i thought i had lost for good ♥ like In the Meantime, Animal Magnetism, All of a Sudden (It's Too Late) and Without Wings (though unfortunately Albatross still eludes me... and i've bought it twice now... oy)

i also found a mixed cd a coworker gave me last year. he didn't label it so once it got put in with the cd stack it was good as lost. and seven months later i finally found it. it's got the likes of Black Sabbath, The Killers and Mitch Hedberg, amongst many others.

so it's nice, to have all my stuff in one spot now instead of in like 20 stacks (i exaggerate, but less than i'd like to be) of cd's everywhere. and it makes me feel all nostalgic and stuffs =)

ETA: found the Corrosion Of Conformity collection (yay!) but am forced to concede that my Kittie cd is no longer readable =( (sadness/boo!)]]> christina had her baby http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/02/16/fdqti_christina_had_her_baby Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:25:43 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/02/16/fdqti_christina_had_her_baby i have no idea when this happened, but it must have been at least a week ago, because last night at the grocery store i saw copy of a weekly magazine with Christina Aguilera holding her cute little baby.

it's probably considered old news by now, but yay, congrats xtina!]]> brand new 2 u http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/02/14/fdqs3_brand_new_2_u Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:28:59 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/02/14/fdqs3_brand_new_2_u i've checked recommendations and peeked into other people's playlists. i've found a lot of interesting music, some that i'd listen to in passing, some with a couple of songs i could go for.

a few of them i can see quickly finding a top spot, or at least making a prominent cameo on my playlists.

(listed alphabetically)

1. Emilie Autumn
--popular tags:
--Swallow... okay you've got my attention. i'm transformed back to my clubbing days. the voice is an ethereal echo, and the pink hair reminds me of vicious whisper from the serenity rose comics. total win.
I Want My Innocence Back is a haunt and i'd love to hear more from ms. autumn.

2. The Birthday Massacre
--popular tags:
--they bring to mind Switchblade Symphony and american mcgee's alice.
i remember a few years ago i did manage to find my way to their site, somehow. i was under the impression that it was a game. the graphics tricked me, i must say! but i found them again on a friend's playlist and whadyano? i've only heard 3 songs by them so far, but i'm still listening.
how the Switchblade Symphony correlation came about i'm unsure, they don't really sound like them beyond the trademark goth ambiance. nevertheless, the correlation's there.

3. The Dø
--popular tags:
--i'm in love and without hesitation. where Feist's voice is a whisper in the opera hall, olivia's is the echoing call in an open field. which reminds me, i need to explore more Feist.
The Bridge Is Broken became an instant favourite. On My Shoulder the most shared between others. Playground Hustle is a unique anthem. When Was I Last Home a reflection played like a lullaby.
i could go on and on. A Mouthful quickly made its way into my cd collection, and i want to play it for everyone, tell all my friends about it. ♥ ♥ ♥

4. Lacuna Coil
--popular tags:
--i was barely into the song When a Dead Man Walks and i'm singing like britney Gimme More. cristina scabbia's operatic voice blending with the chaotic growl of andrea ferro's vocals, along with melodic sounds suggests to me a classical influence. ah but that is always a weakness. it was what had me drifting towards the likes of System of a Down and Opeth, and on the other side of the spectrum The Polyphonic Spree. though in my mind Lacuna Coil stands on its own.
indeed, they're finding themselves in my cd collection as well.

5. The Octopus Project
--popular tags:
--so many good things come from austin, tx, and The Octopus Project is no exception. theirs is a sound that's defined by ambiance, it's the experience, not the words, that make it amazing. they don't need words. when i'm listening to tracks like I Saw The Bright Shinies i can close my eyes and see the bright shinies myself, in a floydian laser show. anything that calls to mind Pink Floyd is hands down total win.
it's also a wonderful ambiance while i'm doing the hack-and-slash in my diablo ii game. taking night drives down country back roads with this sound routed through my speakers is going to be an amazing experience, definitely something to look forward to. i did the same with Animals.

and i en't even done going through my cd collection yet.]]> the 27 club http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/02/12/fdql4_the_27_club Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:37:45 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/kyoto_tig/journal/2008/02/12/fdql4_the_27_club posted mostly for the sake of posterity

live

See all 27 tags…
a story of its own
all your angst are belong to us
ballad
beautiful
bubble gum
covers and samples
cyber-punk
dark ambient
dream
echo
humour
introspection
introversion
jam
live
movies and tv
noir
nostalgic pleasures
politics
remix
schism
seen live
sex songs
sirens and bells
stormy
time
unicursal labyrinth]]>