Odd Thomas Music

I have been following the adventures of (spoiler alert via wikipedia link!) Odd Thomas, arguably Dean Koontz’s most likable character.  The weird, otaku and geeky in me identifies readily with that fictional hero.  Maybe it’s because of this “oddness” that I tend to gravitate towards certain shall we say, “odd” types of music.  You can call it weird, odd, or off.  If you’re in a kind mood, describe them as unique, different or unusual.  Here’s my list of oddly delicious music:

1.       Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass – Theme De YoYo

2.       Amadou & Mariam – Sabali

3.       !!! – Me & Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (A True Story)

4.       Fred Eaglesmith – Worked Up Field

5.       Gogol Bordello – Sally

6.       Kevin Johansen – Daisy

7.       The Red Elvises – Ukranian Dance # 13

8.       Gorillaz – Left Hand Suzuki Method

Again, I’d like to thank MdM for introducing me to most of these music.  The picture above is the album art for Panic! at the Disco's Pretty Odd.

Dr. Horrible Once Again

I posted earlier (albeit as an aside) on Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog. Perhaps I've mentioned there how much of a fan I am, but I am of course going to say it again, being the big fan that I am (and the fact that I sometimes repeat myself, sometimes repeat myself). So naturally I found this "game version" (at digg) of that video blog weirdly appealing, even funny. It's really weirdly appealing. Oh, I said that already.

"Also Known As" Songs

Here’s a list of a few songs I really like done differently by artists other than the original. The originals are great of course. You might call these interpretations, version, renditions, revivals (dear God no!), covers etc. of the original. It’s not exactly better iterations of the original song but the unique way it’s done lends to its attraction and aural allure. Have a listen and tell me what you think … perhaps you can recommend some songs like them:

1. Rita Lee – She Loves You

2. Howie Day – Help

3. Bolipata – Kamusta Ka

4. Rufus Wainwright – Across the Universe

5. Estancia – We’re All Alone

6. Cristina – Drive My Car

7. Nick Cave – Let It Be

8. Madonna – American Pie

9. Sonia – Fly Me to the Moon

10. Faye Wong – Dream Person

Music Blog Part 2: Holy Week Soundtrack

Perhaps inspired by Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (you can tell I'm a Joss Whedon fan, here's the trailer) and due to the "suckcess" of my previous most recent post featuring the infectious Plant vs Zombies theme song (my nephew loves this game), we've decided -- me and the voices inside my head that is -- to feature music in my blog. Sort of making it a musical blog, or a blogging musical, or a blog with a soundtrack or ..... well you get what I mean. There is nothing original about this idea of course, as with most of what we refer to as our life and times -- sorry folks, hate to break it to you but it's all rehash. Just think of it as my sorry excuse to impose my audio proclivities to unsuspecting victims/netizens. For a better blog on music you can start looking here.



So the theme is the Holy Week (Neil Diamond's Holy Holly), or what's happening to me during this time .... or whatever I'm inclined to think about actually, it's my blog see. I was feeling quite under the weather lately starting Monday (Beck's Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes). By Tuesday (Stereophonics' Don't Let Me Down) I was losing the battle between a very nasty virus and my pill popping certain health supplements. On Wednesday I had to bring in the big guns, Zithromax and Fluimicil, hoping to win this fight and regain my honor (Tomayusu Hotei's Battle Without Honor or Humanity). Thursday (David Axelrod's Holy Thursday) came along, a bit friendlier and non-confrontational. Maybe the drugs (ACDC's Highway to Hell) were working. When Friday came I popped another pill happy that I was feeling a bit better which is a good thing since it was the kumander's birthday (Oren Lavie's Her Morning Elegance). We can't celebrate though because it's a Good Friday. I just hope I can recover in time for Saturday's kendo (Madeleine Peyroux's Don't Wait Too Long). Hopefully by Sunday (Bach's Air on a G String) I'll be 100 % just in time for some celebration!

Pinoys are united in saying: WTF is going on?!

Interesting piece entitled "Ousting a President" by one of my idols, the brilliant V. My take on this however is that it won't happen. As I commented on Venir's blog, ours is the time of Otto Rene Castillo's Apolitical Intellectuals. Yes, everyone is saying: WTF!? But our country is suffering from a terrible sickness, a dangerous combination of maladies -- jadedness, apathy and amnesia. Do not worry madame President, nada te turbe, nada te espante, todo se pasa, ipasa que Lozada an sisi. Si? Si! Wala naman mañañari e. (With apologies to St. Teresa de Avila, the irony here is stainless.)

Shut Up!! Just ....

I'm recently rekindling my love for music. We've been cold to each other lately, what with all the work and stuff you know .... the usual, you know .... I try to always be there for her, you know .... try to listen to her, you know ..... I love you pooo, I love you too, you know. But things get in the way of a good relationship, you know. Still I try to make it work ..... but she goes ..... Black Eyed Peas – Shut Up

You have to pardon the rambling above, I'm just trying to see if last.fm and snap.com will work together. Please bear with me, you know.

Another nifty tool: Snap Shots!

"Introducing Snap Shots from Snap.com

I just installed a nice little tool on this site called Snap Shots that enhances links with visual previews of the destination site, interactive excerpts of Wikipedia articles, MySpace profiles, IMDb profiles and Amazon products, display inline videos, RSS, MP3s, photos, stock charts and more.

Sometimes Snap Shots bring you the information you need, without your having to leave the site, while other times it lets you "look ahead," before deciding if you want to follow a link or not.

Should you decide this is not for you, just click the Options icon in the upper right corner of the Snap Shot and opt-out."

Yep. Just copied the above post from them. They were nice enough to suggest that this new feature be announced in my site to "warn" my fictional readers. So there.

An addendum here: I opted for snapshot to be triggered by mousing over the balloon or bubble or whatever they call that icon there beside the links. I figured you guys might not want the darn thing popping up every time you mouse over a link. I know, that's awfully nice and thoughtful of me. You can thank me by donating to your favorite charity.

Part III: Art Blogs

This is part 3 of 3 (part 1 here, for part 2 click here) posts on blogs of note, a list of blogs I've often visited (more like marauded). The following are web logs I've dubbed "art blogs": blogs by talented artists that caught my fancy. At the outset, let me warn my imaginary readers that some sites (if not all) are for mature audiences only. Those who haven't attained enlightenment yet are advised to go through a hundred more rebirths until, reaching nirvana -- or at least a state of dizziness due to several karmic cycles -- one can't make heads or tails of life and thus is ready to venture into the world of these wonderful (and in case of some, funny) artists. Here we go:

7. Okonomide -- art blog by Audrey Kawasaki. Very beautiful art by an equally beautiful woman. Here's a sample of her creations. The site is a livejournal blog, nicely done. I discovered her through motel de moka (one of my recommended blogs listed in part 1). She's actually selling prints of her work so those interested should head on to her site and get details on how to order.

8. Geek and Poke -- funny toon on technology and its follies. Geekoids and their sub species will be pleased, as long as they can still laugh at themselves. The cartoon is a cross between Bill Gates and Gary Larson. Here's a sampler:

9. Left-Handed Toons -- another funny cartoon blog with a new (at least to me) concept. Drawings are made using the left hand by presumably right-handed individuals. The results are quite unique. Plus I like their humor, weird in a nice way and makes me always wish I said it first.

10. rapeme -- last but not least is Ryuko Azuma's art posts. Looking at his drawings one can easily conclude that they're products of a very talented, though perhaps at times, apparently troubled mind. At this point I must again remind the brave souls of the webverse to think twice before visiting the site. Some images are quite disturbing. But there are very nice art works there like these:

Well, this ends the series on blogs I like. It also underscores one thing: there are lots of interesting and substantial blogs unlike mine. So go away and leave me alone.Ü

More Blogs: Part II

Here's part II (part I here) of recommended blogs I've been stalking lately. The following are what I call humorous blogs that help me get through the day. They're a lot cheaper than Prozac:

4. ScorchedHotTub -- Brian's blogspot postings. Like yours truly, Brian of NY started scratching the writing itch at friendster. Likewise, he moved on to answer the call of nature in blogspot/blogger. Unlike yours truly, this guy's postings are funny. The blog self-critique is especially hilarious and original (I think). Anyway, as with the other blogs to be featured in these subsequent posts, this guy's ranting require parental caution. Only mature readers should venture to his site -- or at least really immature ones.

5. Anonymous Lawyer -- "Stories from the trenches, by a fictional hiring partner at a large law firm in a major city." This guy churns out good material, quiet the talented writer, funny too. Talented and funny enough to land a book deal (lucky bastard!). So my fellow bloggers, there is hope yet. All we need is some talent and we're on our way.

6. The Sedated Ape -- Just recently discovered this guy. I've found his posts humorous and witty so far. But I have to warn my fictional readers, these posts have been compared to my blog mainly (where else?) and therefore standards aren't really that high if you think about it. I mean, Anne Frank's diary would probably contain more humor than my blog. Oh, wait, that's totally wrong. I take that back before I get sued. Nobody should find anything related to the holocaust -- and consequently, my blog -- remotely funny.

Up next: Part III, art blogs.

Blogs, blogs and more blogs.

Updated my Recommended Blogs list for you, my imaginary readers. I thought, since I'm getting back to scratching the writing itch, I owe it to my fictional readers to at least keep my blog updated and tidy. I discovered that some blogs I previously recommended are now defunct or, as lawyers (and certain weird cults) would put it, functus oficio (it may sound like some fungal infection and you might probably be right, but that would mean, in a word, kaput).

Anyway, for those lazy ass bastards who can't be bothered to scroll down -- or even those who don't care at all -- here are my updated recommended blogs:

1. Et in Arcadia Ego - a brilliant, funny, witty amalgamation of philosophy, entertainment and the law (not necessarily in that order and most of the time sans the last part), this blog obviously emanates from a brilliant, funny, witty mind steeped in philosophy, entertainment and the law. Oh, yeah, I said that already. Anyway, it's my other blog, only it's in blogspot/blogger so, technically, it's a different blog.

2. Motel de Moka - a very nice, sexy music blog that's powered by very hip and sensual minds. The blog allows you to listen to the music featured in posts by obviously talented and discerning individuals. Ambiance, man, that's what they've got. (Hindi ko alam kung saan nabibili yung ambiance.)

3. Faith of a Centurion - Father JBoy's blogspot blog! Kape't Pandasal! To balance my seemingly mundane and ephemeral tastes in blogs, here's my favorite priest's cool blog. This is where, after going over the other blogs that feature things I'm sure Father JBoy will frown on (actually, I'm sure he won't because he's one of the most open-minded person I know), I go to find refuge and cleanse myself from web-sin. Wisdom abound where elsewhere is absent.

To be continued ......

Left Handed Toons