This Is Not The World - The Futureheads

I've just gotten a hold of the Futureheads' new album This Is Not The World



Tracklisting:
1. The Beginning of the Twist
2. Walking Backwards
3. Think Tonight
4. Radio Heart
5. This is Not the World
6. Sale of the Century
7. Hard to Bear
8. Work is Never Done
9. Broke Up the Time
10. Everything's Changing Today
11. Sleet
12. See What You Want to See

Though I have only listened to it three times, I think it is superb!
And though I do like their second album News & Tributes, This Is Not The World has a more mature and evolved veneer to it.
I have yet to pinpoint my favourite tracks, but a few I know are The Beginning of the Twist, Walking Backwards, Radio Heart and Sale of the Century.

Cheers to the lads for dropping an ace album!

So much clutter, so little time!

Sometimes cleaning and organising is such a daunting task.
What I think is the hardest thing to deal with are giblets.
Whay are giblets you ask?

Those little bits that you can't seem to find a place for and they always seem to be left last in your cleaning endeavour.

Right at this moment, my giblets are pretty severe.
In the quadrant of my space I title the nightstand, I now have to find a place for a calculator, money, pins, knitted cases, vitamins, pens, random hair accoutraments, a key chain, batteries, bookmarks, a mini plastic space helmet, business cards, some odd jewelry and various religious articles.
Argh!
I need to find a suitable position for these things, but I seem to have cleaner's block.
Never a good thing.

Since I'm here, I must say that I got ticked off yesterday when I saw my old page counter stopped displaying!
I have no idea why it bothers me so, but it does.
I had to find a new one, but it stared at zero again and it looks wonky with the background colour.
Now I can't change it out as it'll start over AGAIN.
I was also half-tempted to sit and refresh the blog over and over again until I matched the old number on the other counter, but I snapped out of it when I realised how lame that would be.

Insane.

Fractal Beauty

I love art.
I love how it can make you think, dream, sense and feel.
Whenever there is a particularly appealing piece of art, I love the way it jumps out at you, and one can't help but devour it with their eyes.
I myself enjoy creating art, and I aspire to master a medium one day, whether it be oils, watercolour or even charcoal.
I also dabble in digital art, though I still have much to learn about it.

One type of digital art I find fascinating is fractal art, which is created by altering an infinite fractal loop.
It's fascinating really.
You can read about the infinite fractal loop and fractal art here.

Whilst querying Google today for some exciting images, I stumbled across the fractal art of Sven Geier.
I spent ages just staring at his art with my mouth agape.
It's brilliant.

Now, I am not an expert on fractal art, as I have not seen much of it, but this artwork is stunning.

Here are a couple selections from his dazzling archives:


Kappa Space


Alone


Refocus


Fur


Fireworks


You can find all of these and more at Sven Geier's website.

Disconnect

I feel severely disconnected from myself.
It doesn't feel like I am really doing anyhting...almost like being in a dream sequence.
I hate this feeling.

It's coupled with extreme lonliness.
It seems like everyone around me is unable to fill this lonliness.
I can think this garbage.

But I just need some comfort. A hug.
A little bit of love.

My bros and Mama can't fill this position, cos they need it themselves.
And no one else knows me that well.
Hence, alone.

I'm also looking really haggard.
Not enough sleep coupled with stress and confusion.
I feel unlike myself.
I look at myself sometimes and think 'who cares?'
Things I would care about before I don't anymore.
I'm not eating, or like I said, sleeping.
What can I do?

We Are Rockstars

Right...seeing DIOYY last wednesday was mega!
I actually made it!
Though when I arrived at the venue, there was no one there and I began to worry, but I stuck it out, enjoyed the amazing DJ who spun some ace tunes including Pulp, MGMT, Lou Reed and others, and had to stand through some SHITE band that I don't even remember the name of. But then DI played an immense show!
Before everything started, I picked up a shirt and the album, which I had planned on getting for the low price that they sell it for.
It was a triumphant moment, since I have been trying to get it since the 24th March!
But that is an entirely different story...

Anyway, I saw Morgan, one of the lads out the band during that time I spent by the merchandise, and earlier outside the front door when I asked him if the venue was open.
I fort it was him, but he had used an American accent, and that threw me.
I also saw James, the bassist walk right through the miniscule crowd just before the gig began.
I find it humourous that no one recognised the people they were meant to see.

I placed myself in front as it were, and since this venue is so small, I was basically two feet from the band and almost eye-to-eye with them.
It's sort of a really immense feeling when you're that close and intimate with the band, and somewhat intimidating to those who aren't prepared and shy away.
It's really powerful.

They began to play and I was watching Morgan play guitar with utmost pleasure, but unbeknownst to me he was watching my expressions of delight!
He kept singing suggestive lyrics to my face also.
^-^
That's the intense and intimate feeling I'm talking about, when that's happening and you're making eye contact the entire time!

The band get really messy on stage, flying about and going mad.
There were mic stands flinging around, James got up on one of the amps and was hanging over me whilst clinging to the rafters and Morgan almost threw his guitar.
I was fucking having it!
I let loose to the point of where I didn't know where I was!

As the band said that they were to play their last tune of the night, a resounding protest caused them to play a cover of Whip It, and for them, the SUPPORT act to play an encore!
How fucking amazing!
Not to mention that they played Dawn of the Dead by request, and said that they hadn't played it in ages.

All in all, it was a memorable gig!

Though since then I have been doing things non-stop and haven't fully recovered.

More later, and mucho mucho lovo.
x

Left Alone

This is a poem I wrote some time ago.
Not sure exactly when though.


Bullet in Flight

The tangle of two lovers
I’ve gotta know which one to pick
One of you I want, the feeling hovers

I try to tell my hand what to do
Every day to make myself forget
But my thoughts so sweet bring me back to you

Left alone all my life
Left alone like a bullet in flight

But I can’t forget the other
Crashing into my life like a steel beam through pale glass
Is it you?
Do you want to be my lover?

Left alone
I’ve been left alone all my life
Left like a bullet in flight

The teasing you both give spins my head like the strongest drink
I soar, intoxicate me

But love, can’t you see?
I’m left alone
I adore you both
I’m free

The Draw

It's been what, a week or more?
I am displeased with the performance of this very blog!
How may I please you?
What might you like to read?
Am I not interesting enough for thee...whomever thou art...

Is there something that will draw readers? I wonder.

What will spark interest?
Creativity?
Humour?
Humanity?
Truthfulness?
Pants?

We shall have to wait and see...

Sphinx
x

I've lost all my pure feelings...

It seems to me that gig season is fast approaching!
It's rather exciting!
Though I may not be able to make it to all of these shows, it still is a hopeful line-up!

14 May - Does It Offend You, Yeah?

22 July - !!! (Chk Chk Chk)

26 July - Supergrass & the Foo Fighters

2 August - Gogol Bordello

4 August - Radiohead

6 August - Does It Offend You, Yeah & Bloc Party

9&10 August - V Fest 2008

6&7 September - V Fest 2008 (Canada)

Though some of the dates are close and most of them are in multiple cities, I hope I can attend a few of them.
I am 97% certain of seeing DIOYY? next wednesday!
Even if they're supporting some utter shite rappers, I plan to leave after they play their set.
...and now I'm cool...

V Fest in Canada has got an amazing line-up!
Bloc Party, Pigeon Detectives, MGMT, Oasis, Stereophonics, the Wombats, Foo Fighters and Paul Weller!
I. Must. Go!


On a more serious note, today is Mama & Tato's 28th wedding anniversary.
Mnohaya Lita!*

* This phrase is a traditional Ukrainian blessing which means "many happy years" and is traditionally sung at occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.
However, the phonetic phrase appears above since there are limitations with including the proper Cyrillic text.

Is there anyone?

I feel like exploding.
I feel very low, like I am struggling.
I feel alone.
I feel tired of life.
I feel like screaming.
I feel like weeping.
I feel like laughing.
I feel rage.
I feel confused.
I feel misunderstood.
I feel unappreciated.
I feel unloved.
I don't know what I want to do.
I am finding it hard to see positives.
It seems like everything is getting worse and it will never change.

I am not in a good way.

But I have to continue to have hope, and I must push these most negative feelings away.
It's very hard, but is has to be done.
I would just like to see a glimmer of something nice.

I'll get out of this somehow...I know I will.

Chicken and Music

Reading back on my posts, I have just come to the realisation that I sound like some sort of depressed and cynical individual.
This is not so!

I am generally a happy person, and I am easily entertained.
I do notice when I am typing that I feed off of the things around me, and on this blog it all seems so serious.
I will get used to it and lighten up...I can assure you.

I love speaking with certain people.
And the phrase "certain people" is clouded in mystery.
It's so pleasant, and I can call it addictive.
It's like taking a hit off something. :P

And I notice that this post has nothing to do with chicken now!
That's great, as now I have resorted to naming blog posts without a hint of sanity.

I will keep rambling if left alone, I hope you know.

Sphinx
x

There's no headroom...

Well well...I'm back in here and I see that no one has read my blog.
That's alright, I didn't expect it in the first place.
Or it could be the fact that I have only had it up for a couple of days.
I am unsure.

Well, tonight I am feeling rather lonely.
I've not known what to do all day. Do you ever have that? Where there isn't a single thing you can feel like doing?
It doesn't help anything when it's dark all day, and the rain was coming down in sheets.
My cousin Bill came to visit yesterday night and left a couple of hours ago.
That's always sad as I never get to see them as much as I'd like to.
They live two hours away and it can get a little difficult sometimes.

Mundane though that last bit was, you cannot blame me, for it has been a mundane day.

I did get around to listening to some tunes earlier, which is always nice!

1. The Freedom Spark album - Larrikin Love
2. The Neighbour & Cloudy Room - The Twang
3. Kill the Director, Moving To New York, Let's Dance to Joy Division & Backfire at the Disco - The Wombats
4. Damage, Homo Sapiens, Head & Waiting Game - The Cooper Temple Clause
5. Am I Wry? No, 156 - Mew
6. Time To Pretend & Kids - MGMT (I remember when the band said it was pronounced 'management' in the beginning...)
7. You Know I Love You - Pigeon Detectives


Right...better shoot off, as I haven't much interesting to say.

Sphinx
x

Pastries...

I am obsessed with Rice Krispy Treats.
They are so delicious and nutritious.
Right, maybe not nutritious per se, but pastries never were harmless in the first place...

Music Lust

I would love to write a music blog.
A music blog in general, I mean.
But then again, I would love to write for any type of music publication, such as the NME.
I can only slake my lust for this by writing sub-par album reviews on iTunes, but for the most part some of them get shuffled into the other hundreds that are out there.
It pleases me to note that a few of them are the highest rated reviews.

Perhaps I shall write reviews on here whenever I might get a new album or feel like writing one.
Though I feel like I'll never get a new album again since I am now so newly skint.

I never was obsessed with material possesions and I personally hate money, but music is just something that I love and that I need in my life.
People have been telling me that I need to do things that I enjoy.
Hence why I need to hear music and why I need to go to gigs...that is, whenever a good act decides to grace me with their presence in this cultural wasteland.

There is nothing quite like going to a gig of one of your favourite bands.
It is one of the most sensational experiences.
I have a goal in life, and that is to see a certain group of bands live before I die.
It sounds morose, but you never know when you're going to go, or how long you're going to be here.
Why not just take a chance?

Since Tato died, I have re-thought my movement order, and I believe that I am living in the moment much more.
Why put off today what can be done tomorrow?
You never know what might happen.

Which brings us to my next thought.
One of my favourite bands of all time, Bloc Party, supported by Does It Offend You, Yeah?, is having somewhat of a mini summer tour.




Bloc Party




Does It Offend You, Yeah?



This will be the fifth time.
All four previous times I had to give them a pass, as much as it ripped my heart out.
But now I think, I never know if I will be able to see them before I die.
This is it.

So the hypothetical plan is to go by coach to NYC, see the gig and return home via coach through the night.
This is in August, but I cannot express how excited I am to even entertain such a thought as seeing Bloc Party live!
Not to mention my love for Does It Offend You, Yeah?!
I really want to make this happen.
It will be exciting to say the least.

Music is my world. - I.D. - Kasabian

Sphinx
x

Love, Loss and Desperation

I realise that I have literally just begun my blog, and that I have posted something a mere few minutes ago, but I am in dire need of erm, the need to talk.
Though not much is known of me since I have been on the scene for...twenty minutes, I must speak of a few things.
I have been feeling very weird recently.
This weirdness and general malaise can be explained however.

About two years ago, my grandfather passed away, having suffered from Alzheimer's for several years after being the caretaker of my grandmother who was bedridden from a stroke.
Literally two months after that, my Baba (this word translates into grandmother in the Ukrainian language.) passed away.
I was extremely close to my Baba, and she and Dido (grandfather) lived with my family and I, consisting of my Mama and Tato (father), and two brothers Joey and Mikey for my entire life.
This was like losing a second mother.
I don't wish to rehash the dark time I went through, but my Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic faith and family helped me through this rough two years.
Things were looking up for me.
I got to in a way, begin my life.
I began to do things that I had wanted to do. More things that I can explain in better detail after posting an appropriate explaination blog.

Everything was shaping up to be even more extraordinary than my already extraordinary life had been.
Then, on the 6th of March, the worst thing that could ever happen happened:
My Tato unexpectedly died.

Though I have tried to describe him, nothing I write can ever fully convey what sort of man he really was.
He was an analytical chemist with two Masters, two PHD's and a Bachelor's degree, he owned and operated his own chemistry comapany for thirteen years, he was world-renowned for his work, he was a bodybuilder that once bench-pressed 660 lbs and he was full of life and always lived in the moment.
He was also a deacon in the Byzantine church for what would have been thirteen years this April the 29th, and his 50th birthday was April the 21st.
He and Mama would have been married for twenty-eight years on the 6th May, and he was the best Tato anyone could ask for.

I watched my father die of an accute asthma attack, and I could do nothing.
Two years ago, I had watched my Baba die.
My life crumbled before my eyes.
Everything I know is different.

I do not wish to go into anymore detail, as I was not prepared to write about this subject at this moment in time.
I just figured that you might want to know what some of the reason for me 'feeling weird' was from.
But since that most horrid day, I have been living in a nightmare.
Doing work every day. Papers, files, finances, job searching.
I have been feeling caged.
And I have not been sleeping well since then, which poses somewhat of a problem, since I have been an insomniac for years.
I am at this moment, so terribly sleep-deprived that I feel disconnected and am really not entirely sure of what I am writing.
So please forgive any spelling mistakes or confusing sentences.


And sometimes I let my thoughts eat away at me where things become difficult to imagine.
Hopes, dreams, goals and etc.

During this time where I lost Tato, I also found out who really cares about me.
I found that it is very, very limited.

But I must keep my chin up.

Paitience.
Is a virtue...


I know that if I continue on this vein, I will be here all night and add to this long blog entry that no one will read.
So for now, I bid thee adeiu.

Sphinx
x

A Note of Welcome

To Whomever may read this blog:

Hello and welcome to this newly created blog. The decision to begin a blog on a 'real blogging site' has been one that through years of procrastination, has finally come into volition.
Basically, I have employed this blog to post some random musings and perhaps some measured literary spurts without the stigma of the social networking site.
Though I do possess membership to such a site, my creativity becomes stifled and overlooked with the millions of other members and various people viewing it every day.

It is unclear to me however, how this blog with whether throughout this massive and most manic world. I have mused several times on my quasi-blog about success being achieved through the general appeal of a blog in today's day and age.
I often wonder if there is any single person out there that might actually enjoy reading the mundane details recorded, or the strung-together half-arsed poems I might produce.

One thing is certain...I have a passion for writing (though this phrase is so very cliched...in fact, it is a clear enough cliche using the word cliche.) and for self-expression.

Reader, if you are indeed present, might I inform you about what is to be expected in The Underground?

You can expect dry, disconnected humour of a most strange kind, contradictions, randomness to the nth degree, an odd poem or short story...though they will be rubbish, in-depth and somewhat obsessive talk of music, irregular posting, a somewhat pedantic approach on several things, neglect, rants and unbridled emotion, all veiled in the mask of anonynimity.

How very appealing.

Pressing forward...I would like to welcome you to this blog...a blog of madness.

Sphinx
x