From Russia, With Blocks

I was just getting into the Muxtape Fluid.app too...

So I came a little late to the Muxtape party. After sleeping on it for a while–I figured I had enough new music with all the mp3 blogs–I got around to trying it out, and instantly fell in love with its simplicity. But though I listened to a quite a few tapes, I never got around to making one of my own.

Well that changes now.

Thanks to OpenTape, which allows you to host your own Muxtape, I’ve finally created my own online mix. The whole thing runs at about 1hour & 18 minutes, so one could download and burn it if they so choose. With the exception of aforementioned MP3 links, OpenTape looks and works almost identically to the Muxtape of yore.

As always, my mixes are a slice of my current music listening pie, and are highly personalized/eclectic. Inside, you’ll find “Golpe De Estado” (aka Coup d’etat), an all Spanish rap from Immortal Technique’s 3rd World Order. Damn I wanna see this one live! (Tech is fuckin’ bomb when he performs). There are also a few hipstery-tracks from Adult Swim’s . You might recognize Osborne’s “Wait a Minute” from some of the late night bumps that show up during the best 4 hours on tv. Finally, there’s also some piano renditions of a few epic Super Mario Galaxy themes. I got these from a few users on YouTube, where there’s a whole scene of piano players covering and sheeting video game music. They’ve all inspired me to dust off those old Chrono Trigger sheets I printed out a year ago and start workin’ those digits!

Speaking of YouTube…

OpenTape isn’t the only service that carries on the spirit of the Mux. Like its open-source cousin, MixTube also tries to duplicate the mixtape interface of the original, but instead of uploading MP3s, MixTube uses YouTube videos as the source for the tracks. It’s a little clunky, but it works. I just recently got into the whole YouTube music video scene (I lagged mainly because the audio was crappy, but that’s changed since the “High Quality” option came about), and made a couple of Nintendo themed mixes. Check it out before it’s shutdown.

So while MuxTube may have been cut down by the IP hoodlums,just like the mythical Hydra, twice as many heads pop up to replace it. When will they learn?

Who knows, but as Justin Ouellette, the creator of MuxTape states, “The industry will catch up some day, it pretty much has to.”

Long Live the MixTape!

PS: For some unknown reason, some of the tracks’ total times are messed up. Weird.
PPS: Wrote this up a month ago, but forgot to publish! Aiya…

I just had to link this one. This guy is fuckin’ hilarious. His ego is like a hundred billion zillion, and it can’t/won’t/don’t stop. As much as I dislike his music, shows, grave digging, etc., he makes me laugh.

Fuckin’ froot loops (I always thought they were frUIt loops. I don’t eat a lotta cereal)… THIS GUY.

PS: I see he still “dances” the same. Can’t noone say “I can’t dance” no more after seein’ this fool.

YouTube - Gnarls Barkley - “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul?”.

Damn. That’s exactly what it feels like, I’m sure. Good job Cee-lo!

[via Shannon]

Note: I wrote this back in January right after my life-changing roommates from hell got their 30 days. These songs helped me get through the next month and allowed me to heal, and forgive (but never forget of course). At the end is a little statement I hope they see someday.

I feel calmer now.

The house meeting with Sally just ended. To my friends, and the people who care about me: It went well. An eviction notice was handed down.

the pillows - I Think I Can

Its a great two part song. Inspirational anthem in the beginning, and emotional ballad at the end give it a great one-two punch of anime-inspired j-rock by the pillows. If you want your heart strings tugged at like Weezer’s “My Name is Jonas
” then hit up some FLCL and listen for the tunes from a rock band that has found a place in many anime-lover’s hearts, alongside Yoko Kanno, Tsuneo Imahori and The Seatbelts.

Who knows why the J-genres: J-pop, J-rock & J-indies are so endearing and approachable. “I Think I Can” is not the only anime tune that appeals to me so . It kinda reminds me of Joe Hisaishi’s themes for the Studio Ghibuli films, such as Mononoke Hime (Main Theme), Laputa (空から降ってきた少女 [The Girl Who Fell from the Sky] ),.
Listening to the Totoro theme - 風の通り道 ) [Kaze no tourimichi], I am still brought to tears by its beauty.




Its no coincidence that this song is about the wind, whose fleeting nature is perhaps the epitome of the Japanese concept of あわれ (a-wa-re). The song is also connected with memories of my Aunt passing away as a child, and is a sad, yet inspiring and hopeful reminder of nature’s—and life’s—transience.

Back to the pillows. Yes, apparently there is no capitalization.

かけがえのない
夢を知っちゃった
もう絶対ごまかせないんã
寝ても覚めても繰り返す
I - C - A - N

Kake ga e no nai
Yume o shicchatte (I found out about your dream that money can’t buy)
Mo zettai gomakasenai n da (And you definitely won’t )
Netemo sametemo kuri kaesu
I-C-A-N

I think I can
I think I can
I think I can

(repeat 3 times)

Walking around with this song playing through my iPod, I believe in myself, in my power, in my dreams. It has really been a nice pick-me-up song when the roommate drama at home gets me down. If you haven’t seen FLCL, really do take the chance to see it. Its a really short series (only 6 episodes) that has great animation, music and story. Like Totoro, its another “coming-of-age” story that blows the usual Disney affairs out of the atmosphere. Dubbing’s not too bad either.
. : .
It’s a shame about the split— it was not amicable.

Oletta, I really did feel that there is—as you would say—”potential” in you.. as a friend. I don’t really take anything you’ve said to me personally, and I don’t mean any harm to you either. It really hurt when you said you would stop cooking here, because I know its something that you probably enjoy doing. I don’t think anyone would want you to stop doing something that you have been able to do here at the house.

Erik, I’m sure we woulda kicked it plenty in another life. I really did enjoy your company those first few times we chilled. I know you’ve been in a rough situation since moving down here to SD, and I’m sorry that things didn’t work out here at the house. I’m really glad that you’ve been able to find cool people to kick it with here though; I remember when me, Adelina & James used to look back to kickin it with you in earlier in the year. And it would have been cool to have someone to play the cool games I had… Though we haven’t been able to get to know one another, I wish you well. But punk. I know you stole my games.

If these next 30 days prove to be easy going, that’d be nice. A shame, but nice. Ah, I hope Baby well too. Don’t keep her shivering in the cold like y’all do

Alas, at least I feel peace at heart.
Sorry it had to be
this way.

~
Terry

PS: I don’t plan on starving, or burning in hell

Thought: I heard a heart beat .

THUMP THUMP

and another bellowed even lower.

Boom, bom bom BOM.

Through the floor. I was trippin’ cuz I didn’t know where it was coming from. It was just the beat of the music.

THUMP THUMP Boom etc.

I jammed and danced.

The heartbeat ended. Sounds resound, headtrip.

Erykah Badu - I Want You

By far one of my favorite songs of 2003, from the ever soulful Erykah “BecAuse i DU”. Remember “Back in the Day”, Miss Kaia… When we would? …I miss you big sis!

Both tracks are from “Worldwide Underground”
One of my favorite “Get your ass UP” albums.

Danger!