I have been a fan of this video for a while, someone showed it to me last year sometime and I was thoroughly impressed by it! It is a stop motion video, now not only am I impressed because of how well done the video is, but stop motion takes so much time and effort I applaud anyone for tackling it. Especially with the smoothness and clarity that was done for this video.
So the video is a guy playing the drums and the piano on a split screen and he puts the two together to make a song. At the end you find out that the guy in the video does not know how to play the drums or the piano, but I’m positive he must have some musical background even if it’s another instrument or he wouldn’t have been able to compose the song. It’s a really good video and pay attention for when he starts drumming really quickly, he has quite a bit of video editing talent!
I’m a student and with the school year coming to a close I’ve been thinking about studying a lot which is why I came up with this post. I’m a high stress person, but not the kind of person that loves stress, surrounds themselves in it and then go on and on about how much they have to get done. Stress seems to find me and then I have a difficult time coping with it. Music is my release especially when I’m studying. So in this list they are all albums that have a certain lull to them, something to ease my mind when I’m trying to focus. What I look for is something pretty low key or a mix of slow and a bit upbeat to keep me motivated. Then next I aim for something that I’m very familiar with or that have no lyrics so that I don’t get too distracted. I guess I do put a lot of thought into this so without further ado, the top ten albums to listen to during crunch time!
(in no particular order)
1. Ok Computer – Radiohead (Relaxing, the kind of album you can just listen to and let it take you away)
2. Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd (A mixture of low key instruments and electronic sound, some songs contain lyrics, others don’t. Gives a nice mix as background music.)
3. Ghosts I-IV – Nine Inch Nails (New album, completely instrumental, it’s perfect because it isn’t distracting but it’s pleasant to listen to.)
4. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis (I didn’t use this cd this year, but I have before, it’s a really nice mix. And some lyrics are a little hard to catch so you don’t try and sing along.)
5. Discovery – Daft Punk (This was a recommendation from my roommate, if you like electronic sounds, Daft Punk will give you the perfect background to your studying. Again a mix of lyrics and instrumental.)
6. The Greatest – Cat Power (Chan Marshall has a gorgeous voice, full of soul. Instantly takes you to that right state of mind.)
7. Bryter Layter – Nick Drake (I’m not too familiar with Nick Drake, but his calming voice works amazing as background sound.)
8. Dummy – Portishead (Well a trend is developing, there’s been electronic sounds and now trip-hop. Beth Gibbons smooth style give me shivers, this is one that I’m so familiar with I can just enjoy it and not get too distracted by it.)
9. Splinter – Sneaker Pimps (If you can track this album down, it’s definitely worth it. Another trip-hop band, with meaningful and metaphorical lyrics. I find electronic sounds very soothing which is why they keep popping up in here)
10. The Picture Plane – Hinterland (Hinterland is not very widely known, and there are lyrics to go along with the low key tunes. But the lyrics are sometimes nearly impossible to understand because of the airy voice they are sung in. I’ve read a few interviews with the band because lyrics are difficult to find online, and they said that it is the mood they were trying to set, they don’t want you to focus on lyrics. They want their listeners to focus on sound and emotion, brilliant if you ask me!)
Runner ups: The Con – Tegan and Sara, Mezzanine – Massive Attack
I hope some of these albums can help someone like they helped me in a time of stress that requires focus.
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”
- George Bernard Shaw
Every once in a while I get an idea to look up something new. I’m always amazed at the fantastic things that can be done with objects that seem every day and simple. The other day the urge came to me to look up various forms of art. It all started with me building a make out of Duplo for my rat… I know I have too much time on my hands, but it got me thinking of the diversity of Lego and all the amazing things that can be done with it. And wow, there really is a lot of amazing things already being done with it. Here are some of the ones I felt were really interesting.
I was thoroughly impressed by these, especially considering I could barely make a decent looking maze! So that’s Lego, and then I started looking around my room and thinking of all the other amazing work that must be out there with these seemingly banal objects, here’s what I found.
And my personal favorite, money. I love this art because it makes such a strong statement on capitalism.
Think of it and you can find it, I really love it when artist’s push the envelope. These pieces stand out to me because they make everyday objects art, and they become absolutely beautiful.
This is a list put together by me, it’s completely in my opinion. I definitely think these songs are worth it to check out. And because I’m thorough, a little blurb about each one with a lyric of why I chose it!
Hysteria – Muse (Basically any song by Muse can work as a song of longing, but this is one of my favorites. “Cause I want you now, I want you now, give me your heart and your soul“)
Closer – Nine Inch Nails (In my opinion, one of the sexiest songs of all time, it’s pretty explicit so I’ll post a lyric which I find a little more tame. “You make me perfect“…Yeah that’s all that’s tame)
Because I Want You – Placebo (This is a song about needing that other person to make it from day to day. “Don’t give up on the dream, don’t give up on the wanting, because I want you too“)
On The Sly – Metric (Metric are the masters of writing songs that touch me, this song is all about the way the people in your life affect you from being with the person you love. “I want them to hate me so you can love me on the sly, I don’t feel so far away from you lately love me on the sly“)
El Manana – Gorillaz (The ultimate song of desire, how everything around you falls to pieces when life keeps you apart. “I saw that day, lost my mind, Lord I’m fine, maybe in time you’ll want to mine“)
No Reply – Steve Conte (Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack) (A song about wanting to make everything better for someone else, a completely selfless form of longing. “If I could call the rain to melt and wash away the pain you feel I would“)
Yours To Keep – Teddy Bear Sthlm (Used to be the song for a cell phone commercial! But the song is totally cute. “Cause I’m yours to keep if you want to“)
Do You Love Me Now? – The Breeders (A really good song about love lost and wondering where that person is. “Do you think of me, like I dream of you? Do you wish you were here, like I wish I was with you?“)
I’ll Be Anything You Want – Melissa Auf Der Maur (A fun song about wanting nothing more than to fulfill desires. “I’ll be anything you want you love me more than you love yourself, on my knees on my knees I’m begging you darling please, please, please, please, pick me“)
Love Burns – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Another love lost song, and then way it affects you once that person is out of your life or another reading the way love makes you crazy and you would rather be sane than in love. “Never thought I’d see her go away she learned I loved her today, never thought I’d see her cry and I learned how to love her today never thought I’d rather die than try to keep her by my side. Now she’s gone love burns inside me“)
Runner Up: Ruby – Kaiser Chiefs (“Cause there’s nothing at all but the space inbetween, finding out what you’re called and repeating your name“)
“There is always some madness in love. But there is always some reason in madness.”
I warned before I took an extended break that I would be gone for a little bit. However a little bit turned into a long time, and I’m not quite back yet but I just felt the need for a brief update and a little something I put together.
I took a break to focus on school, which only has a month left, so that is very exciting, but the long haul is not finished yet. I still have two essays and five exams to write. But I’m almost there the end is in sight! I was hoping to post here and there not completely stop but between school, getting my other site up and running (updates soon), hearing some hard to handle news and trying to maintain my sanity… it’s been a rough couple of months! However, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I will only be here on and off until May, but I haven’t given up on this blog it’s my baby and I miss it! Stay Tuned!
