THROWBACK



FRESH



IN BETWEEN

EYE CANDY

The video I have to share with you today is an incredible little video I found on Vimeo. Although it is short is is packed with really cool shots, I have no clue how they put this together, the time lapses are magical, the slow motion sections are SICK, and I can't get over the shots they get with the reflection off the person's eyeball! I think it is supposed be a look at winter through the dreams of a skier, at any rate the cinematography is really impressive...

Chimæra from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo.

A MOMENT WITH A MASTER: STEINBECK

This segment is partially inspired by the review of Mumford and Sons and my affinity for their song Timshel. But John Steinbeck is my favorite author of all time, and I really just wanted to take the opportunity to post some of my favorite East of Eden passages so that anyone who hasn't read the book will pick it up immediately and give it a read (it is soooooooooo good). I don't want to even attempt to dissect his work, he is a master as the title says, I just wanted to share it and would love to hear peoples' thoughts.

"... They had a tool or a weapon that is also nearly gone, or perhaps it is only dormant for a while. It is argued that because they believed thoroughly in a just, moral God they could put their faith there and let the smaller securities take care of themselves. But I think that because they trusted themselves and respected themselves as individuals, because they knew beyond doubt that they were valuable and potentially moral units-because of this they could give God their own courage and dignity and then receive it back. Such things have disappeared perhaps because men do not trust themselves any more, and when that happens there is nothing left except perhaps to find some strong sure man, even though he man, even though he may be wrong, and dangle from his coattails." (East of Eden p. 12)

"When a child first catches adults out-when it first walks into his grave little head that adults do not have divine intelligence, that their judgments are not always wise, their thinking true, their sentences just-his world falls into panic desolation. THe gods are fallen and all safety gone. And there is one sure thing about the fall of gods: they do not fall a little; they crash and shatter or sink deeply into green muck. It is a tedious job to build them up again; they never quite shine. And the child's world is never quite whole again. It is an aching kind of growing." (East of Eden, p. 20)

This is probably the most seminal passage from the book in terms of establishing Steinbeck's main point (although the book is filled with countless ideas and philosophies)...

Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. “Don’t you see? he cried. “The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel-‘Thou mayest’-that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’-it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Do you see? …

…But ‘Thou mayest’! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he still has the great choice. He can choose his course and fight through and win.” Lee’s voice was a chant of triumph

Pages 301-302

"And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it whishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about. I can understand why a system built on a pattern must try to destroy the free mind, for that is one thing which can by inspection destroy such a system. Surely I can understand this, and I hat it and I will fight against it to preserve the one thing that separates us from the uncreative beasts. If the glory can be killed, we are lost." (East of Eden, p 131)

This quote comes from one of the most impressive literary scenes that I have ever encountered. The character loathes himself and is contemplating suicide as a result, but he can't just kill himself he has to convict himself first and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is guilty and doesn't deserve to live. . .

"He thought dawdling, protective thoughts, sitting under the lamp, but he knew that pretty soon his name would be called and he would have to go up before the bench with himself as judge and his own crimes as jurors

And his name was called, shrilly in his ears. His mind walked in to face the accusers: Vanity, which charged him with being illd ressed and dirty and vulgar; and Lust, slipping him the money for his whoring; Dishonesty, to make him pretend to talent and thought he did not have; Laziness and Gluttony arm in arm. Tom felt comforted by these because they screened the great Gray One in the back seat, waiting-the gray and dreadful crime. He dredged up lesser things, used small sins almost like virtues to save himself. There were Covetousness of Will's money, Treason toward his mother's God, Theft of time and hope, sick Rejection of love.

Samuel spoke softly but his voice filled the room. "Be good, be pure, be great, be Tom Hamilton.

Tom ignored his father. He said, "I'm busy greeting my friends," and he nodded to Discourtesy and Ugliness and Unfilial Conduct and Unkempt fingernails. Then he started with Vanity again. The Gray One Shouldered up in front. It was too late to stall with baby sins. This Gray One was Murder.

Tom's hand felt the chill of the glass and saw the pearly liquid with the dissolving crystals still turning over the lucent bubbles rising, and he repeated aloud in the empty, empty room, "This will do the job. Just wait till morning. You'll feel fine then." That's how it had sounded, exactly how, and the walls and chairs and the lamp had all heard it and they could prove it. . ." (East of Eden 404-405)

There are so many brilliant passages I have two copies of the book, one read so many times it no longer has a cover, the other i bought as a travel companion precisely because the other now lacks a cover and I didn't want it to fall apart. If you have read the book and have favorite lines or ideas please share them, I love talking about it!!!

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: MUMFORD & SONS

I don't know how or why it happens, but every time I come back to the rain soaked hills of the Pacific Northwest and enter back into the perpetual grayness that is a northwestern winter I become consumed by an insatiable desire to listen to folk music. Over the past couple weeks I have reconnected with a lot of my old folk loves, and have become fascinated by a number of newer discoveries such as Johnny Flynn, Angus and Julia, and Boy & Bear. I could fill my blog with the work of these artists, and I am sure you would find some joy in it, but I am somewhat selfish when it comes to music and like to feel like I have fully connected to an artist before I pass them on to someone else, so I will refrain from doing that for a while. Today though I would like to share an artist with you that I have appreciated for a while, but that has really grown on me over the last couple of weeks. The band has earned a considerable amount of press over the last few months, so it wouldn't surprise me if you have all heard of them and experienced their music already, but I can't hold in my love for them any more.

For those of you who haven't heard of the group yet, Mumford and Sons is a four piece folk-rock band from England that formed back in 2007. In 2009 M&S released their first full length album entitled "Sigh No More", and since the release the group has achieved widespread acclaim that culminated in two Grammy award nominations (Best New Group and Best Rock Song) earlier this month. The band has been weary of claiming any kind of musical identity; in interview after interview they claim that they are just four guys who get together and play music and that any attempt to define their sound just limits what they are doing. Their album and their EP's paint Mumford ans Sons as a fiery folk rock band with a gift for songwriting and a flattering ability to pour their heart into every song and line they record.

Musically speaking the group is talented, they are loud and aggressive and know how to stack layers of music on top of each other to take a song someplace and build towards an emotional climax. At the same time the music itself is simple and at times almost predictable. In fact, a lot of their music sounds similar, and sometimes the songs almost seem to blur together into one long emotional roller coaster. This quality of seeming repetition isn't always endearing, a lot of bands who share this trait eventually find themselves boxed into a certain sound and find it difficult to expand. However, the lyrical talent of this group, coupled with the force of their music sets them apart from a lot of other groups for me. The music itself is more of a vessel than a center piece, and by imbuing that vessel with unbridled and unabashed passion they are able to breathe life into their lyrics. They create a unique kind of poetry that quickly grabs a hold of you and takes you to some uniquely emotional place. So although the sound may not vary a lot from EP to Album, or from song to song, the emotional pull of the music and the places that the music take you are fulfilling.

That's the way I have come to view the group, an exciting embodiment of poetry in folkish motion, and it is that quality that has led me to play their album on repeat day after day over the past couple weeks. But I have talked entirely too much now, and I think the rest of what I have to say is better said by the group itself so here are some of my favorite songs, lyrics and videos from the band, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. . .

This is one of my favorite songs by the group. I love the lyrics and the meaning behind them and the connections to East of Eden by John Steinbeck (my favorite book of all time). I'd love to hear peoples' thoughts about the lyrics because they are pretty deep, and I have my own take on them inspired by Steinbeck's masterpiece, but here is a unique performance and the lyrics to the song. . .

TIMSHEL LYRICS

Cold is the water
It freezes your already cold mind
Already cold, cold mind
And death is at your doorstep
And it will steal your innocence
But it will not steal your substance

But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
Hold your hand

And you are the mother
The mother of your baby child
The one to whom you gave life
And you have your choices
And these are what make man great
His ladder to the stars

But you are not alone in this
And you are not alone in this
As brothers we will stand and we'll hold your hand
Hold your hand

And I will tell the night
Whisper, "Lose your sight"
But I can't move the mountains for you

Here are some of my other favorite clips. . .

PAINTING A WORLD WITH WORDS

I love poetry. It is a passion that I try to keep to myself because I am so bad at writing poetry and feel completely incapable of articulating why I like certain poets or poems or styles or whatever. I just like reading and hearing people express their emotions in such an abstract way that is somehow so genuine and real. Recently I started watching a lot more def jam poetry videos, spoken word is a really cool way to connect with poets, watching them bring their life to work tells you a lot about them and what they are trying to express. Here are some of the videos I have gotten through so far and appreciated, they range from comical to heartbreaking, some make you laugh some will probably give you chills, I tried to start with the more light-hearted performances and end with the more serious ones. . .

"Asian Invasion"



"Gorgeous"



"Penny For Your Thoughts"



"Dear Father"



"First Writing Since"




"Knock Knock"

LET'S TAKE A TRIP

GERMANY, CANADA, RWANDA
Corneille's story is almost as interesting as his music, and his diverse heritage is embodied in the music that he makes. Corneille was born to Rwandan parents in Germany back in the late 70's. His family eventually returned to Rwanda, where he would spend most of his childhood. In 1993 his musical career began to take off in Rwanda but in 1994 his family and his life were torn apart by the Rwandan genocide, he lost his parents and numerous other family members and decided to leave Rwanda for Germany. In 1997 he moved to Canada to study, and that is where his musical career really began to flourish. Corneille draws a lot of inspiration from American soul and R&B artists, which adds yet another layer to his unique musical upbringing.



BRASIL
Sergio Mendes is a musical giant. He was a brilliant arranger and his work is a fusion of Brazilian samba and styles from around the world. This particular song features some electronic tones, it's one of my favorites off of his album Brasileiro (which is one of my favorite albums period). Everything that he touches is pretty much genius, if you haven't had a chance to listen to this album or more of Mendes' work I strongly suggest you take the time to get familiar with him.



FRANCE/GUADALUPE
The group's name is Kassav, they are a francophone band from Paris who have become the biggest name in Zouk music in the world. Zouk music surfaced in the 1980s in The Caribbean, it was a fusion of dance music from Guadalupe and Martinique, and since its genesis the music has become a major staple of Caribbean music in general. Kassav's recordings and acclaim have been crucial in bringing the music to the rest of the world.



SENEGAL
This band is probably the biggest hip-hop group to surface from Senegal, or from Western Africa for that matter. They rap in French, Wolof, and English, and their music and style is an eclectic mix of cultures and sounds. I love this song because it draws heavily on both Western African musical traditions and modern Western rap. It's a brilliant fusion that I haven't been able to stop listening to for literally days.




JAPAN
This guy is legit. I don't really know how to explain it very well, and I know little about him other than the fact he is a musical genius. His music seems to borrow from a number of sources but is unique in every sense of the word (almost seems like a major theme in all of these artists). Enjoy.

MUSIC ON MY MIND

THROWBACK




FRESH




IN BETWEEN

For this post I am reaching back into the vaults to some incredible videos I found a couple months ago. The three pieces differ greatly in style and substance, but each of them is endearing in their own way.

The first video captures me because of its simplicity, it's just a video of a Zambian musician performing a song in a Zambian village with a crude guitar that looks more fragile than it does playable. In this simplicity though there is a quality that eludes much of the western musical world, it is an innately African ability to speak and express through rhythm and poly rhythms. This ability is put on perfect display at the end of the video when the singer begins calling out rhythms over the top of the song, it is absolutely incredible to hear the ways he plays with the existing time signature. It bring up a point that I learned in Senegal, the idea that people can hear the same music in a completely unique way depending on their preconceived notions of rhythm and music. To me the concept is a beautiful one that speaks to the synchronicity of humankind, but also the inherent diversity of our oneness.

KEN'S SONG

Ken's Song - A Traditional Era from David Tree on Vimeo.

The second video is about a man's journey as a photographer and surfing enthusiast. It chronicles his love of the ocean of and of surfing, but also the crushing power of the water and his fascination with a force that is far greater than himself. I really appreciate the artistry behind the video, the shots are incredible and the editing is top notch. I think the visual images coincide nearly perfectly with the narration, and the two combine to create a kind of visual poem. I love the way the narrator talks about the ocean, because here in the Northwest we don't know much about beautiful tropical beaches, the ocean is exactly the way it is characterized in this piece a brooding and beautiful force.

THE DARK SIDE OF THE LENS

DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.

This video is just insane. I really enjoy dance and the ways people can move their bodies to express abstract ideas, but this video takes it to another level by combing movement with the art of cinematography. The editing that they did with this video are top notch, and it accentuates the movements of the dancers to near perfection. I almost think the editors go too far by putting in random lines and numbers and angles, but the end product is still awe inspiring.

IRC DANCE MOVEMENT

IRC dance movement from . on Vimeo.

THE WORLD IN PICTURES

Here are some of my favorite pictures from The Big Picture blog. If you haven't visited that blog and have a love of photography I highly encourage you to check it out. The pictures there are incredible and span a wealth of topics, places, and people. Enjoy.

MUSIC ON MY MIND

THROWBACK


FRESH


IN BETWEEN

It has been quite a long time since I have been able to post anything on this blog. I apologize for anyone who followed throughout the summer, but I promise you all that I am back with a vengeance, at least for the next month. My goal is to post at least one thing every day for the next month, and then when I get back to school I will try and keep at least two posts a week. Today I bring you one of the greatest music videos I have ever seen in my life. The music itself is really good, the group is the Friendly Fires, an English dance punk/something-or-other group that released their first album a couple years ago. The song is called "Kiss of Life", its a catchy dance song replete with a sick Brazilian percussion sound, synths and all sorts of other goodies. But what sets the music video apart is the incredible dancing of the lead singer, the video has thoroughly convinced me that there are few funnier things than white dudes in skinny jeans booty dropping with the sun setting in the background. I have no clue how the man does it or why in the world he would ever exhibit such a talent, but it is infectiously funny and combined with the music it makes for a great watch. Enjoy the video, and stick with me over the next month for more pictures, music, videos, and reflections.