My Blog Is Stupid - Bathrooms!!!

I'll never be able to write a good music blog - There are hundreds of reviewers out there who can do it much better than I can, and I think I should stick to a strength.

So i'll just start saying whatever comes to my mind - and here is the first thing. Bathrooms.

In the downstairs of Benson, there are bathrooms for women and men and the end of the hall by the AS office. At first glance they are very nice (I assume the women's bathrooms are nice). There are rows of sinks with laser sensitive faucets, paper towels are always in stock, the bathrooms are clean, and spacious.

But as any guy who has used these bathrooms knows, there is a problem - In each stall are Mark Foleyish comments scribbled into the walls about how to get a BJ in the handicapped stall. HAHA - But I'm not joking, its weird.

The truth of the writing on the wall is somewhat irrelevant - and I'll tell you its pretty graphic and detailed - there are listed instructions for how this activity is supposed to take place. So it gets pretty weird when you're sitting in a stall, minding your own business, and someone comes in and takes one, maybe the one next to you - because this writing starts to make you paranoid. You think, "Is that the person writing all this?" or "Am I about to be assaulted in this isolated bathroom?" You never know, because no one talks about these bathrooms. This is why the truth doesn't matter - the uncertainty hints at the possibility of truth and that puts all these paranoid Mark Foley I'm-tapping-my-foot-in-an-airport-bathroom thoughts circulating through your mind - it becomes terrifying.

I can't just say to the person relieving himself, "Hey, did you write all the BJ talk in the bathroom stalls?" That would be (a) very likely incorrect and (b) rude and (c) out of place and (d) awkward. But, someone has to say something - So I'll say it here, even if no one has a clue as to what I'm talking about or thinks I'm crazy. If you don't believe me - go look and see.

However, I will continue to use the bathrooms, because they are very clean, rarely used, and not that far from where I work.

Animal Collective

I think the theme of this whole blog will be centered around music, and what I've been listening to recently. To start:

Animal Collective

For the past couple weeks I have been unable to turn off the first track off of the album Merriweather Post Pavilion, titled In The Flowers. Animal Collective are difficult to describe because they have a way of changing their sound from album to album. I would describe their music as a mix between psychedelic, electronic, and indie rock. If you haven't heard of them, it will take some listening to getting in to, as one could easily make the claim that their music is, "F*cking weird." Try to get past the initial judgements of weirdness or strangeness or whatever, listen without analysis, take it in.

Some of the songs on the album are best for just listening to in a relaxing setting, others are perfect for starting out a run (My Girls), and others are good for singing along to (Brother Sport). All the tracks create some kind of sonic landscape over which melodies and leads are laid down - and while some of it may sound fully chaotic, its wonderfully put together and organized. Animal Collective seem to possess a great awareness of their songs as a whole - all the pieces fall into their proper places.

It's good stuff, and if I was piloting a ship into outer space, I would want them playing on my space headphones.

Unofficial Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYEAflCO4Eo

Music and Passion

Blogging

I will likely fail at blogging effectively and have very few interesting things to say.