We demand that NBC reverse its crazy decision to ‘bench’ Community. The show is the best one on TV and NBC should renew it immediately!

kari-shma:

November 12, 2010 (by Parker Fitzgerald)

(via kari-shma)

(via thingssheloves)

If you’ve ever seen the movie High Fidelty (starring John Cusack, based on a book by Nick Hornby), you may recognize the quote (and I’m paraphrasing) “You know, I always thought I was some sort of professional appreciator or something…”. This is in fact exactly how I feel. And like the main character in that movie, maybe I only appreciate for fear of having to actually create something myself. Appreciating is what I have always done, it is what feels safe, and its all I need out of art. And let’s face it, art is life. So, my life revolves around the appreciation of art, and this first of hopefully many written musings is a manifestation of the focal point of my life. A long-winded and round-about way of saying I’m going to start a blog of sort critiquing music, yes? Anyways, I hope you’re still with me.

The first time around here, I’m just going to start with explaining some of my music, literature and film tastes. I strongly believe that the art a person takes in is really what makes them who they are, at least to a certain degree. So this is who I am:

Music: I appreciate so many different kinds of music. For the purposes of this series of articles, I’ll be focusing on relatively new music, just to save you all from reading yet another review of something that has been discussed and analyzed to the absolute grave. For example: The Rolling Stones. Who wants to read a review on The Rolling Stones? Good God, not me. My guilty musical pleasure is 80’s rock. You know, The Cure, The Smiths, Violent Femmes, Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground… all that good stuff. But more recent music I appreciate: She & Him, Cage the Elephant, The Black Keys, Dan Mangan, The Heavy, Jason Collett, Against Me!, Blitzen Trapper, The XX, The Wooden Sky, Kate Nash, The Swell Season, anything Jack White affiliated… the list is endless. You’ve probably heard of the majority of these bands and have preconceived notions about them. I hope to try and introduce you to some more obscure bands through my blogging and also just give you my opinion on some of the more popular ones.

Literature: This will probably take a backseat and play a small role in these musings. I love literature, both modern and post-modern, but it really is not what I focus my attentions on. I apologize. But generally I like post 1970’s books, my favourite authors being George Orwell, Richard Neely (The Walter Syndrome), and Woody Allen.

Film: Movies are my weak point. My film tastes are perhaps not very well developed as of yet. I tend to gravitate towards the classics, not necessarily discovering new things for myself. My guilty pleasures often take precedence over my desire to expand my horizons, but I am not completely ignorant, and I believe I know a good film when I see it. Some of my favourites would be: Citizen Kane, anything directed by Wes Anderson (The Darjeeling Limited, The Life Aquatic, The Royal Tannenbaums) or the Coen Brothers (Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou) Fight Club, Pulp Fiction, High Fidelity, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pride & Prejudice, and more.  

So, that is the overview of me. I hope you are intrigued by or at least respect my tastes and maybe you also appreciate the things I appreciate. To quote Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.“ This is me, stopping, taking a look around, and documenting it. 

Mary Webb

Into the scented woods we’ll go,

And see the blackthorn swim in snow.

High above, in the budding leaves, 

A brooding dove awakes and grieves;

The glades with mingled music stir,

And wildly laughs the woodpecker.

When blackthorn petals pearl the breeze,

There are the twisted hawthorn trees

Thick-set with buds, as clear and pale

As golden water or green hail - 

As if a storm of rain had stood

Enchanted in the thorny wood,

And hearing fairy voices call,

Hung poised, forgetting how to fall.

One day, this will be my home. Seattle, Washington.

Adventureland.

by Holly Thiessen

Lift the lid and inhale the scent of must and old fake wood

slide the vinyl into place, gingerly place the needle

sit back, eyes closed

for this is the sound

of the Sunset Mansion

Turn the dial carefully, until the loose, sweaty blues does play

straighten up and sway a little to the soulful sound

of gritty slide guitar

swirling wine in the old glasses

down it all and pour some more

for this is the taste

of the Sunset Mansion

Slip out of those shoes and wiggle white toes in the grass

step slowly to the water’s edge

Dip bare feet in the water, as the sun dips below the line of trees

Feel the cold lapping, ankle deep in the cold

for this is the essence

of the Sunset Mansion.

by Robert Nichols

Alone on the shore in the pause of the nighttime

I stand and I hear the long wind blow light;

I view the constellations quietly, quietly burning;

I hear the wave fall in the hush of the night.

Long after I am dead, ended this bitter journey,

Many another heart holds no light

Shall your solemn sweetness hush, awe and comfort,

O my companions, Wind, Water, Stars, and Night.