Wednesday, October 31, 2007

toy soldier.

So Britney's new CD came out yesterday. Being a fan of hers since the 6th grade I went off to buy it during my break between classes. I was very, very excited about her first new album in 4 years, so much so that I didn't even let myself listen to the leaks online, choosing instead to be surprised on the 30th. With that said, people have been asking me all day what I thought about it, so below, I shall give my full, compete and honest opinion on Britney's new album.

Blackout has actually given Britney the best critic ratings of her entire career. Everyone seems to love it. It's even expected to debut at #1 with 250k-300k in sales, meaning she'll have 5 consecutive #1 studio albums, beating her own Guiness World Record. The songs aren't bad. The songs are very contemporary. They sound like she's never left the scene and still knows what's going on. The reason for this is because she (or, more accurately, her record label) has employed today's top notch producers, chiefly Timbaland protege Danja, Sean Garrett, T-Pain, as well as Bloodshy & Avant, the people responsible for "Toxic." If this had been the 90's this record would have been groundbreaking. However, since Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake cashed in on Timbaland's futuristic beats everyone has been wanting a piece of the chart-topping pie, turning Timbaland and Danja's beats from futuristic to contemporary, and eventually if this trend continues, mundane.

It's biggest strength, and for me, it's ultimate downfall is that it sounds like everything else on the radio. This serves as something crucial because it means that Britney is able to keep up in the music industry. The current state of the industry means that taking any kind of break is a death sentence into obscurity. Taking any kind of break, for however long, is a life time in the consumers eyes. By using Danja she shows she's able to stay current, but does current translate into still being relevant? Like Usher, Petey Pablo and Ciara all benefited from Lil' Jons production a few years past, Britney has benefited the same as Brooke Valentine did. Remember her? Yeah, that's my point. By the time she came out, everyone sounded like her and she like everyone else. With "Blackout" it could be anybody else on these tracks, and they could appear on any radio station anywhere in North America. The Britney name is the only distinguishing factor that carries the album.

The second problem facing "Blackout" is that it doesn't feel like a real comeback. The lack of promotional buzz on Britney's part, even the lacklustre performance at the VMA's are forgivable. However, this album feels a little lifeless and I feel as if Britney didn't even want to do this, considering she only co-wrote 2 songs on the whole disc. Even the song "Piece of Me" in it's lyrical brilliance that sees her bite back against the critics, media and overall detractors feels listless because she didn't write a single word in the song. How personal can a song get when you didn't contribute nickel or dime? Her first two albums didn't include any co-writing credits from her either, but they felt they had an actual purpose. They existed to introduce the world to the 17 year old with world domination dreams. Her third album was when she took creative control and it felt like an honest record (or as honest as the Britney machine gets). Her 4th and last album was just like "Blackout." The top producers cultivated it, but with that one (which is subsequently my favourite) still felt like it had a purpose. She co-wrote the majority of those songs and it felt fairly real and authentic. "Blackout" on the other hand feels like she didn't want anything to do with it, as if her label and the producers were just wanting to make money and prove that they can resurrect anybody's career.

I repeat that the songs aren't bad, they're good even, but does having good songs equate having a good album? That's up to the individual to decide. The high points for me, and the songs I recommend every check out before they're singles and blow up are "Gimme More" "Piece of Me" "Break the Ice" and "Toy Soldier."

Ultimately, I like this album. I may not like aspects of it, or as a product on the whole, but I enjoy the music - and her music is what made me a Britney fan to begin with. Over and out.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

fluorescent adolescent.

I had to read John Howard Griffin's book "Black Like Me" for my sociology class. It is, by far, one of the most difficult books I have ever had to read. For those of you who haven't a clue what the book is about, basically, Griffin decided to see what life was really like for a black person in the deep south in the late 1950s. So, he decided that the only way to truly find out, was to become black. He medically altered his skin a dark brown and then went off to live in the deep south for a month and a half, wandering around Louisiana, Mississippi, and New Orleans as a black, unemployed man. Having to read about the outright discrimination he faced was more difficult than I can put into words. He was the same person he had always been, with the same hobbies, interests and education - yet, simply because his skin was now darker, he experienced a completely new world. People weren't mean to him, John Griffin the person, they were mean to a black man. Plain and simple. They did not see "him" they saw a colour.

As difficult as I found the book, I would like nothing more than to have at least 1 more person read it after seeing this. It is only through education that we can finally purge our society of the disgusting evil that resides in select individuals, permeating their actions and thoughts, spilling over unto the lessons they teach their children. It's through education that we can finally attain a society that is decent enough to live in. The situation with the Blacks in Deep South is the same as the Jews with the Nazis not 10 years prior. We like to think that in our post-modern world this type of thing rarely happens anymore, that we should be so educated to not stoop to that kind of a level of barbarism. Not true. Look at the injustices suffered by Muslims, masqueraded under the thin veil of "counter-terrorism." Look at how the youth, the elderly, women and gay men and lesbians have to struggle to be accepted into certain aspects of our "educated" society. To say that we have somehow left behind this discriminatory mask the human race frequently wears is a lie.

The book caused me to look inside myself in a way that merely talking about prejudice, discrimination and injustice never could. It made me look past the "good person" I portray and actually see the person I am. They say that to gain a true understanding of a person, you shouldn't observe how they treat their equals, but rather, those below them. I fear that within me I, too, have discriminatory thoughts and preconceived notions about people, that I should know not to think, but I do. I could sit here and try to blame "America's Most Wanted" all I want for instilling in me to fear certain individuals above others. To treat others from a different playing field based solely on things they cannot control (IE age, sex race and sexual orientation) - or worse yet, things that, because they can control them (IE religion), therefore means they have decided to fit a certain mold. Unfortunately, America's Most Wanted is not to blame. The media is not to blame. Others surrounding us are not to blame. It is our own decision to accept these "truths" we are presented with, and therefore, the blame lays squarely on me for having discriminatory thoughts, however small they may be, regardless if they are chased from my mind as quickly as they enter it.

I offer no real solution to this ever-persistent and very real problem. Education allows us to see humans, not certain aspects of humans. Education allows us acknowledge these faults within ourselves, and hopefully rectify them. However, education can only go so far and reach a certain number of people. Perhaps the ultimate solution is to keep trying. Yes, education can only travel so far, but if we were to blatantly stop trying to bring about equality, would we not have conceded ourselves into defeat? Yes, the problem will never be solved, but there is a chance it may never be universally accepted. It is this chance that we have to rally our hopes around.

In completely unrelated news, Britney's new CD is out today! :D

Sunday, October 28, 2007

nature of the experiment.

I just thought I'd let everyone know that Tokyo Police Club soothes my soul. I've been listening to their two EP's on repeat for the past few days. I don't know how they manage to do it, but with each listen the songs seem to get better and better. My favourite song by them is Be Good and the RAC Remix on the Smith EP is musical ecstasy.

I think I'll make a real post sometime soon since I never really talk about my life. Yes, next on the agenda will be me talking about my life. Over and out. Under and in.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

fire eye'd boy.

So I made a post a week or so ago about the bands that were coming to Cowtown that I wanted to see. Now, I must make an addition to that.

Friday, December 14th - BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE

I'm so insanely excited, you have no idea. I did a double take earlier today when my friend told me.

Monday, October 22, 2007

please don't stop the music.



I'm so flipping excited for this, hahahaha. I'm not even letting myself listen to the leaks. I want to be surprised on the 30th when I go and get it. Huzzah!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

fall into place.

Overheard in New York speaks the truth...

"Three-year-old girl to no one in particular: The white man is everywhere. [Mother looks at her, puzzled. Girl gazes up at crosswalk sign] The white man tells us when to go."

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

we're from barcelona.

I swear if I stumble upon someone else's Facebook status that says "Billy Bob is across the universe" or "Michelle Icklebob is in rainbows" or worse yet "Peter Nosebleed is in rainbows, allowing them to take him across the universe" I'm going to snap. Maybe it's because the majority of people I know are into that kind of indie music and film, which I suppose is a good thing compared to the alternative, but it's getting to the point where it's very much "bah, bah, I'm a sheep too."

Friday, October 12, 2007

party like a rock star.

"Happy Birthday" A phrase like that gets tossed around quite a bit on a day like today, but what does "Happy Birthday" really mean? Is there such a thing as a Happy Birthday? In reality, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year's gone by and how little we've grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, with each flicker of the candles on the cake we know it's not to be. That for the rest of our sad, wretched, pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end. Inevitably, irrevocably. Happy birthday? No such thing.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

heaven on earth.

It's coming. I can feel it coming.
I only have 1 full day left before it rears it's ugly little head.
Oh God, no, send the apocalypse now so I don't have to deal with it.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

i was married.

"I look into the mirror, for evil that just does not exist. I don't see what they see."
I Was Married by Tegan and Sara

Sigh.

Loneliness wraps itself around me, like a frigid blanket.

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

keep the car running.

This post serves more as a reminder for myself so I know what's going on, but looking ahead some of the bands coming to the city that I want to see include:
The Weakerthans - Oct 9
The New Pornographers - Oct 13
Tokyo Police Club - Oct 14
Ted Leo + The Pharmacists - Oct 18/19
Modest Mouse - Nov 2 (sold out :()
Boys Like Girls - Nov 2
Wintersleep - Nov 6
Dropkick Murphey's - Nov 8
Stars - Nov 20

Monday, October 01, 2007

plea from a cat named virtute.

So October has arrived. This is always a great month, and has always been one of my favourites. I tend to wait 11 whole months just to get to October. The leaves changing colours, the brisk wind that stings your face on a cool day, the thought that my birthday (and with it, presents) are coming. I tend to be a sucker for Autumn. Actually, I tend to be a sucker for all seasons minus spring. Spring can rot for all I care.
Autumn here in Calgary is something I've never seen. The trees shedding their only possessions to the frigid ground, while cars produce gusts of wind that blow them around is nothing new. The wind coming along and producing a tolerable sting on your cheeks is nothing new. The sky morphing into an inky black, dotted with stars earlier and earlier in the day is nothing new. The tall skyscrapers that seem to separate the clouds, and leave scratch marks on an unsuspecting sky is something new. The bustle of one million people scurrying around, with an almost disregard for the people around them, invading their routine, is something new. But most new of all, is the backdrop to which this is all set on. Looking out into the vastness of time and space in front of me and seeing jagged formations of earth that have been here longer than the human race is something new. I've always thought autumn was the most beautiful of all seasons, but having everything I love about autumn depicted in front of the Rocky Mountains is something new, and something I'm finding I quite enjoy.