Hey Snow White, It's Gonna Be Alright...

Calming down to tons of music... Actually, just found the one song that finally made me calm (Hey Snow White by The New Pornographers). Of course, I should have gone to this band in the first place. They go well with the fake fish tank my dad has activated in the computer room.

As every post states, yes: I should be sleeping. New day at camp tomorrow... All new campers, all new group. Oh gosh, shivers and shakes. I really hope tomorrow goes well.

And now, with the heart quivers finally ceasing, I can focus on something I've been meaning to create...

If you know me well enough to... well, know me, music is an absolute obsession of mine. If it were a chakra, it'd basically be my heart. People bond over it, create it, listen to it... Maybe not with as much intensity or passion as I have, but STILL! And with that, I give you my Top Five Favorite Bands (in no particular order, mind you)...

1) Los Campesinos!: 7 Welsh siblings of delight and joy. They have been described as having a "blog"-writing style, meaning pretty hip and sounding... well, blog-worthy. Their CDs, Hold On Now, Yongster... and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (although they say this is not a true second album- they are working on the new one at the moment) received outstanding ratings. I am constantly re-obsessing with these albums every few weeks, and I never cease to find an occasion where a Los Campesinos! song does not comply. They have inspired me from my poetry to songwriting to exercising to dancing to power points in class... Think pop, think witty, think absolutely beautiful. This is the one band I am most excited about seeing in '09 (which was my goal), and it's happening August 22nd :)

2) The New Pornographers: Another group of... 7-8 members that I have been fortunate to witness in concert every year for the past three years! I was introduced to them by the song "Sing Me Spanish Techno" in... oh gosh, 10th grade? I have every CD (Mass Romantic, Electric Version, Twin Cinemas, Challengers), and their quality in concert is just superb... Three of the members have solo projects which are just as impressive (Neko Case, A.C. Newman who goes by Carl in the band, and Destroyer aka Dan Benjar). It is finely constructed indie pop genius at work, and I wouldn't have it any other way (except I wish Dan would tour more often with them...). Out of all my favorite bands, this group is always consistant in my life.

3) Stars: A band that (and I hate to admit it) I overlook sometimes, but are absolutely amazing. I can go through their entire collection in one sitting quite easily and feel as if I've just traveled a lifetime. Reccomendations: "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" (a gorgeous music video), "Take Me to the Riot" (ahhh, a definite go-to song), "Midnight Coward"... I could go on, it's that ridiculous. I need to see this band- they were in town about three years ago, and I couldn't see them due to not being old enough :( There is so much electronic hips and hops and happenings, but it all feels so... genuine and unpretentious. I can't even decide a go-to album for this band! Oh gosh, and just talking about them makes my obsession with them begin all over again (and this is definitely not a bad thing!) <3

4) Rilo Kiley: This band has probably influenced me the most musically. I aspire towards the perfection that is known as the album More Adventurous (aka the album that got me into the world known as "indie music," as pretentious as that sounds). I can go on and on about any of their songs, and I honestly discover one new element of a song through each listen. "Portions for Foxes" has been a huge favorite of mine, "Love and War 11/11/46" was a self-declared theme song for myself during high school, "Don't Deconstruct" has a trumpet part that is to-die for, "Silver Lining" is lyrically beautiful... Seriously, each album has so many songs that I truly adore (not-as-strong for Under the Blacklight, but still...). Jenny Lewis has grown stronger vocally through each album, which is a lovely progression to observe. Blake Sennett and Pierre de Reeder (guitarist and bassist) both have lovely solo efforts out, but Jenny Lewis is absolutely remarkable (Acid Tongue = a song to die for). Basic point: This band is the basic make-up of my being, pretty much

5) Tegan & Sara: Now, this is where I almost have an argument with myself as to whether or not they are truly Top Five Worthy. I have seen them twice in concert (both times absolutely spectarcular. They are the cutest girls- so funny and always talkative). When I listen to their albums, I get so connected to their songs... Oh yes, they are that good. I sing harmonies to their songs on So Jealous every time I listen to it. Songs to try are "I Know I Know I Know"and "The Con"... oh gosh, I really could name off whole albums even. They seem so thoughtful in their lyrics, and know their oddities... gah, beautiful.

OTHER BANDS: If I could name a million more, I would. Fleet Foxes, Frightened Rabbit, Broken Social Scene, Hey Ocean!, The Hush Sound, Get Back Loretta, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs (especially them), Zwan, Death Cab for Cutie... Ahhh, so much music. But the thing about the Top 5 are that they are in constant rotation (or, at least, in some sort of rotation), and have influenced me with their beautiful albums. AND HEY- I finally did this list :) Soon I'll have my Top 5 Favorite Songs (oh GOSH, this could take a while)... Until then, goodnight!

Two old planks of knotty pine, A couple of nails that poke right through

There are moments in life that simply makes one's heart swell, and those are the moments I live for the most.

My heart swell of the day: I helped backstage for my sister's show for camp, and afterwords I went upstairs to help undo microphones and chit-chat with the sound guy... I get a call from my sister, saying, "Someone wants to see you!" I run downstairs and BAM: One of the sweetest children in my group runs to me, his mom following close behind. She looks at me and says, "You know, he was excited to see his sister in the show... But all he could talk about was how excited he was to see you!" I pretty much melted into putty. It's moments like this that make me look at my job and say Hey, I may be that one counselor. The one that is able to make a kid smile. The one that kids tell their parents about (and remember their name). The one that, years down the line, they will remember... That's a longshot, but it's better to dream big than not dream at all.

So when I doubt my character, when I doubt who I am... it's the moments that make my heart swell with love that will bring me back into focus.

Story of my life: The Dark Was the Night Album is absolutely amazing. The music snob in me is quite pleased :).
Oh, and hi butterflies. Let's play? Except these ones are a bit dangerous... perhaps you're a mix of bees and butterflies, stinging and floating to and fro. But you're just out of your cocoons... So nothing too stinging, and definitely still on earth.
Oh, we will see... But until then, it's time to get some sleep!

Tell me now whatcha lookin' for, the answer's right there at your door...

Bits and blurbs...

* Bedouin Soundclash sound pretty tempting (adding to the music desires)

* 3 weeks until I am 21 years of age. Woo!

* Camp is still wiping me out... but I love those kids. And oh yeah, pump it up tomorrow!

* At my mom's where good wifi is allowing me to videochat and not have to spend two hours in coffeebean to get 3 songs (exaggeration: It really took 30 minutes for one song. Here, it took 10 to get the rest of the CD -_-).

* Now, I want coffeebean... YESSSS.

* Just decided to give in and buy myself the other Hey Ocean! CD (Stop Looking Like Music). Ahhh, so so so good <3.

* Definitely thought I would be back at my dad's by midnight... oops.

* I forgot how FB chat is not fun on my laptop.

* Moxy Lovechild.... posts in progress :)

* Reason to love summer #1: Fruit tastes ten times better. Pineapple, cherries, strawberries... oh my goodness!

* Reason to love summer #2: Music is absolutely constant! Jam sessions, getting children songs stuck in the membrane of my being, playing it on Tuesdays... ahhhh.

* Maybe I should have waited to buy the CD... NAH. Ipod connection will just have to happen in the morning :)

* ... Will I be able to get up in the morning? (Obviously, yes. Early enough to sync the ipod... that's a different story!)

* I really need to get my eyes checked... New contacts, please?

* I want to see 500 Days of Summer. And Away We Go. And Whatever Works (even if it sucks?)

* Old, "I-want-to-rent" Movies I Need to See: Lost in Translation, The Royal Tennenbaums (did I really butcher this? Sorry!), Running with Scissors, Rocket Science...

* True Blood = TV Happiness (also Hung. also FOOD NETWORK. also Top Chef Masters and The Fashion Show on Bravo)

* Must remember: Project Runway...

*American Idol Tour on Saturday :D

* Oh, and most important reason to love summer #3: I get to see my best friends at least weekly <3

AND THE MUSIC IS DOWNLOADED! Now it is time to drive home first, then sleep :)

We are anti-movement, we are anti-anti...

I am completely EXHAUSTED. Camp is just wearing me down bit by bit... and I could easily write a five-page essay on all the terrible, no good, very bad day stuff that has been going on... But the kids and the laughter from other counselors makes up for it. Plus, seeing my friends outside of camp is certainly helping me survive (oh, and the late-night AIM/FB talks of course!).

Death Cab for Cutie was utterly unbelievable. I could not have asked for a better group of friends to go with and endure a 4-hour car ride. The opening acts are two of my favorite bands... pretty much ever (The New Pornographers are a constant, Tegan & Sara are just as close to constant as ever), and I've seen them live before so I knew what to expect (excellence, dear friends, pure excellence). Then they came out... and it was amazing. First half just them, second with the LA Philharmonic... and I died. Literally could have fallen to the floor and died in musical bliss. I'm tellin' ya, "Transatlanticism" may be one of my favorite songs of all time (I cried a little. It didn't help that the fireworks that went off at the end made me squeal like a little girl)... It was absolutely gorgeous with the orchestra. That moment will probably make it into my Top 5 Band Performances ever... and in just under a week and a half, I get to watch the American Idol Tour :P

It's been almost a month of summer vacation, which is absolutely lovely. I need more time to read, more time to clean, more time to practice... Oh goodness, what am I saying?! Relax! The time I have is sufficient enough, and honestly, my friends are the ones making everything so amazing.

These are my bedtime thoughts, and even if they were a bit boring, at least they are there!