Animal Collective.

So Animal Collective has just released their new CD "Merriweather Post Pavilion" (January 9th of this year) and it is amazing! Described as Avant-progressive rock Animal Collective continues to release incredible sounds and lyrics that are changing the way people think of rock or indie music. The dudes are currently working on different movie options to explore in their near future and Panda Bear stated that they want to "create a movie that would have visuals similar to what somebody would see if they closed their eyes while listening to Animal Collective's music". We'll see if that happens, it would be amazing of course, but seems like a dreamed up idea that may never quite pan out.

Anyways, I'm pumped about this new album. Here's a taste of what to look forward to after purchasing, I can't even begin to say how much I f-ing LOVE this track!...

Do Make Say Think.

This Toronto band has been on my iTunes ever since my “high school sweetheart” introduced them to me about 5 years ago. Today while I was headed into the gym “End of Music” came on and I thought to myself how their band name lives up to every expectation. Listening to their inspirational, all instrumental songs makes me want to get out there and Do (go to the gym, a walk, or whatever) Make (usually inspire me when I’m painting) Say & Think (Void of lyrics, their songs make me really think of how I feel without interrupting with conflicting lyrics). When you’re in one of those weird fazes in life when you’re not sure of anything, or have lost motivation, I think that Do Make Say Think is the perfect medication! Clear your mind, allow yourself to think without distraction and be inspired.

Music Drought.

Although New Years resolutions never seem to quite pan out for me, I do have one thing on my list besides the ever so typical “I want to lose 10 pounds” “I only want to drink one night a week” etc, etc. that NEEDS to be satisfied. This is the art of finding new music.

I grew up a confused child listening to whatever was blasting into my room through the wall that divided mine to my brothers. This typically included everyone’s favourites at the impressionable age of 10 (note my sarcasm)… Nirvana, NOFX, Rancid, Satanic Surfers, Green Day, Bad Religion, all the really good 90’s punk and alt rock. The confused part came when I went to school and all of my friends were listening to Spice Girls and the Backstreet boys. A ten year old girl in the mid 90s, obviously I was going to plaster my walls with images of the way too sexy (but totally all for girl power and not subjecting their bodies in any way) Spice Girls.

What does this have to do with my New Years resolution? Well, growing up with such an odd range of music tastes, I’d like to keep that going into 2009. I want to look into finding new and exciting artists and genres of music. The hard part for me is figuring out where to look. I tend to look in the “interests” section on friends facebook profiles, Now Magazine, Eye Weekly, and a couple other places, but this is not good enough. I have some serious searching to do. Since I would really like this to actually happen, I’m thinking of NOT calling it a “New Years Resolution”… maybe just a long-term goal?

Here’s something (not new but soooo good) that I have recently re-discovered (which totally counts in my books) I can’t tell if I like the original ‘Psychedelic Furs’ version of ‘The Ghost in You” or the Counting Crows version (which is the one I originally fell in love with thanks to the classic Clueless soundtrack, but anyways, this video is awesome… I should have been in my 20s in the 80s. Enjoy. Peace.

Bring Colour To Their Lives.

On August 25th, 2008 I held a Fundraiser/Art Show at Sneaky Dees in downtown Toronto. After talking to my Uncle who was born and raised in Malawi, a small country in central Africa, about the drought that would lead to thousands of people going hungry due to lack of food and sky raising costs, I decided we could help make a difference. This is when "Bring Colour To Their Lives." started. A party series where we all get together, listen to amazing music, dance, and raise money for a really good cause.

Event #1: August 25th, 2008

9 Local artists displayed their work when we turned the upper level of Sneaky Dees at College and Bathurst into a gallery to showcase the amazing talent that can be found in our amazing city. DJ Dirrty Shoes brought out some amazing tunes for the night and we managed to raise $1000 on a Wednesday night thanks to everyone who came out to support! To put into perspective the impact we had by raising that money listen to this… with that $1000 we raised enough money to feed 4 families of 4 for an entire month! And all you had to do was come down, pay $5 cover, drink, dance, and have an awesome time!


Event #2: November 1st, 2008

Since the first event went so well and made such a difference, I decided to throw party number two! This time we had local musicians Modernboys Moderngirls, Alphabot, and Djs Famous Players come out and put on what was a really awesome show! By the end of night everyone was hitting the dance floor! Despite the fact that this event was help the day after Halloween and a weekend filled with binge drinking, we still managed to raise $850 which went towards sending four girls to school for an entire year! This includes not only the cost of schooling, but also an adequate amount of food and proper school attire for the year! Currently there are photos and letters from the students who we helped to start a better life.


Bring Colour To Their Lives is coming back for round three and if you want to be a part of it STAY TUNED! More information is yet to come. I have a feeling this next one is going to be bigger and better than the last!

The Beginning.

Ever Since I moved to the city almost four years ago, I have wanted to start writing a blog. I’ve had this one set up for a while, yet I’ve never written even one post. Is it because I am terrible with spelling, grammar, and am not the greatest writer? Maybe. Is it because I am simply too lazy? It’s possible. But NOW I am going to start. On this day, January 8th, 2009, I will begin life as a blogger.

Every time I travel home to my parents house I have the greatest conversations with my Dad about just about anything. Usually business, what big things I’m going to do with my life, how I can be more creative when applying for jobs, etc etc. One thing that always makes me laugh though, is his constant attempt to through the word “blog” or “mainframe” or ‘text” into any sentence he can. My dad has always made fun of how concentrated my generation is on technology, and how lost we would feel without the internet or cell phones. He’s absolutely, 100% correct. I went crazy not having caller ID on my cell phone, and when the internet goes down I go completely stir crazy. I’m sure this is most likely what has lead me to my inability to sit down and focus on reading a novel for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Anyways, what I’m getting at is the fact that I always just laughed when my Dad went on about how everyone blogged. I was so against this whole part of the internet for whatever reason and would always respond with “Dad, no one actually has a blog” or “I don’t know anyone with a blog”. To my surprise, several people I know have blogs. So, this will be my attempt. I have a lot of really cool things that happen around me everyday and what better way to document them then this. At a party I was recently at, I was listening to a friend talk about how blogs are such a great way to document what goes on in our lives, and I completely agree. City life is amazing, there is tons to share, so now I will begin.