Monday, May 20, 2013

Comics and Critters

Well, it seems that while I have mostly kept up with my music blogs, I have most definitely fallen behind on my charity resolution blogs.
Partly because I fell behind on donating in the month of March, but mostly because I am far from a professional writer and when my ideas come to me at work or in the shower, they don't do me much help. Especially when they make their escape before I ever navigate to a computer.

Because of this, and the fact that it is more than halfway thru May, I am combining my post about my charities for both March and April.

For March, I stayed local and donated to the Geneseo Animal Shelter, on behalf of them building a new shelter. Although the weather was a bit deceiving, spring was nonetheless on its way and with it many unintended baby critters. As much as I'd like to adopt a second (and third and fourth) kitty, in a few months I will be moving and unable to bring my Phoenix with me. At least initially. (I am beyond unhappy about it, but I keep reminding myself it is only temporary.) Because I can't offer my own place as a secondary shelter, I thought making my donation specifically for the new shelter would be a good idea.
HOWEVER, if you have a little extra room in your home and your heart, LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIES! They currently have an overflow and any help would be welcome! LOVE THEM. LOVE THEM ALL!

For April, I chose the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) because basically, well, fuck censorship.
Lazy, I know, but to quote their F.A.Q., the CBLDF is "...dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians  and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals." Basically, the CBLDF helps protect and defend those from stupid people who take offense easily. Helping keep books & comics from being banned in schools, freeing authors/artists from uncalled-for arrests, etc. As an avid reader and purveyor of arts in general, I wholeheartedly support this. And I hope that if you are my friends, you do too.

For such a late post, I feel like I should have more to say, but being as the world "charity" alone tends to scare people away, I feel less is more.

And once again, if you have any suggestions as to what charities I should look into for upcoming months, please share!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Lyrical Indulgence








"Live & Direct" - Sugar Ray
This came on shuffle a few times over the past month, and it would always make me chuckle, and then I'd forget about it. I listened to this album constantly during high school, but this song in particular... Well... Supposedly the lyrics are "Whata bye bye bye" but all I can hear is "What about my butt?" And now so will you, and because of that, this song needed to be first.

"Love Is Greed" - Passion Pit
When this first came on, I realized I had heard it, possibly a few times before. I can't remember when or where, but it was extremely familiar. So this time I actually paid attention to the lyrics. I think it depends on context, but I really fell for the line "If we really love ourselves, how do you love somebody else?"

"I Couldn't Be Your Friend" - Tegan And Sara
Forgot that I had gotten Tegan and Sara's new album, and this song came on shuffle to remind me. I like the whole album, and there will probably be more on mixes in the future, but I mainly picked this one because it was the first that caught my attention and brought me back to them. I love these girls.

"Be Here Now" - As Tall As Lions
As Tall As Lions... in my opinion they're great lyricists. Again, one line caught me the most: "It's been a good life, I'll be sad to see it go." And the way it's sung. It just gives me goosebumps. Seeing this trend, I've now realized how to titled my mix. I usually write these posts after I finish the mix, but now I'm thinking I should write these before I actually publish it. Titles are always so hard.

"Walk On Air" - Minus the Bear
Well, besides the obvious reason being it's Minus the Bear, I should state that it's a new song from Minus the Bear, and it's glorious, and it's on the soundtrack of Injustice: Gods Among Us. Wait, what? Yeah. It's awesome.

"Wooly Mammoth" - Local Natives
This one was less about lyrics, and more... chord progression? for me. The underlying music. It snagged me and wouldn't let go. (Not to play down the lyrics, of course. They just weren't what first caught my attention.)

"Cough Cough" - Everything Everything
So much about this song I love. The background keyboards. The drumming. The subtle "cough cough." And of course, "I'm coming alive. I'm happening now." Yes. Just yes.

"Brennisteinn" - Sigur Rós
I'm not sure how to translate all my Squees and jaw-dropped facial expressions into a proper explanation. So I'll just leave it at that.