Monday, February 20, 2012

Break on through to that dirty drop

Those of you who are more musically-inclined than others have probably come across the new Skrillex EP titled Bangarang. One of the most prominent Electronic/Dubstep/Whateveryouwannacallit artists right now is undoubtedly the ex-screamo/weirdo Sonny Moore, better known as Skrillex. His "filthy drops and wobbles" are his staple, and they have permeated every house party and club known to college students.

Initially, I believed that dubstep would fade out, as college kids would get increasingly bored with the underground genre and unlike other music, it would not filter down through high-school and younger demographics like most music does. (Disagree? How about Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller for starters?)

But the bass keeps dropping and wobbling, doesn't it? Admittedly I have grown accustomed to spin-offs of dubstep and electronic music, but some songs like Cinema by Skrillex and I'm In Need by Savoy still give me goosebumps every time.

I'm channeling my inner-Nick Swardson from Grandma's Boy and referencing the "You would like this music too if you had robot ears" line. So great.

On his new EP, Skrillex collaborated with musical pioneers of their own era, The Doors, as part of a musical regeneration project. (http://www.regenerationmusicproject.com/)

As The Doors' keyboardist Ray Manzarek says in the song, "That's kick-ass!" I absolutely love this song, and this idea. Why? Because The Doors and Skrillex are exactly the same idea.

Started in LA in the 60's, The Doors were not widely accepted by the public upon the release of their first few album releases. They casually slipped into the hippie-drug using genre and were looked upon as taboo for not only their music, but Morrison's controversial antics as well. (He started a riot - reminds me of some people I know)

Skrillex absolutely fits the same profile. I have had adults on more than one occasion propose the "Do you know this new Skrillex band?" question, which induces giggles every time. Hehe, how naive. His half shaved head, greasy hair, all black clothing, and chain smoking surely do fit the profile of a demonic little creature, and even though his music may sound like it is the beginning of some sort of satanic ritual, Skrillex is widely popular in the college scene. Whatever he is, and whatever he will become in the future, I'm sure he shared his thoughts with the members of The Doors regarding what they thought of being simultaneously rejected and idolized themselves.

Below is the video of the collaboration between the two underground legends of their respective eras. Check it out if you have not already seen it.


Sunday, February 5, 2012

Week 5: Halftime for all

Week 5 of Winter Term. The ambivalence felt towards you is tearing me apart. 


You are great in the sense that you mark the halfway point for the term. In many ways this is fantastic, especially if you are stuck taking the Geography 202s and the Comparative Literature 102s of the academic spectrum. (I'm sure Mark Twain's biography is great, but no, I do not want to compare it to Joan of Arc's memoirs. Also, no one cares about igneous rocks.)


Alternatively Mr. Week 5, you are hell. 


As a Journalism Major, perhaps the biggest emphasis placed on any aspect of this seemingly broad career field is the importance of deadlines. Obviously the Lillis Business School kids would be drilled for turning in a project late or missing a quiz . However, met deadlines are the sole means of survival for any journalist. Miss a deadline, get fired (or worse, fail a class..) Bottom line.


Now that I have successfully scared myself, I suppose I could talk about how I have the largest project I have done thus far due Friday. Have I started? I'm telling myself I have.
Our assignment is to write a feature piece (basically a dramatized bio) on a person- any person. I have found that person, and even conducted an interview. 2 points for John. 
I have yet to listen to this interview, determine the meaning of my piece, or determine why I even chose to interview the person I did. 


I think I just threw myself out of an airplane without wearing a parachute.


This week should be a good time. Which got me to thinking- what won't I see by being occupied with school work this week?


1.) A Patriots Super Bowl parade, complete with Vincent Wilfork shirtless.
2.) A super exciting and intense Oregon Acrobatics and Tumbling match. (meet? game? event? what to even call it!?)
3.) Gonzaga win a game.
4.) A good episode of that Napoleon Dynamite show on Fox. (Can't believe Fox wasn't kidding with this show.)
5.) Oregon players declare for the draft. The madness MUST be over.


Looks like a media-free week might be just okay after all!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

First Time-Lapse Project

I put the following clip together today in a span of roughly 3 hours. I set my Go-Pro camera on our TV stand in our apartment, set it to 30 second intervals, and did a little homework, watched some football, and played video games. I plan to redo this style of video again maybe later this week. Enjoy!


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Then and Now

It is oh so good to be back. Apologies for a lack of a post in quite a while. Being surrounded by incessant consumerism, lazy lifestyles and sports placed me into a coma-like sedation where ESPN and NHL Network (both in High Definition, of course) served as my intravenous nourishment; while Battlefield 3, Skyrim and Busch Light acted as an oxygen-delivering breathing apparatus. Back to a half-vegetated, American state has opened my eyes to many things, not including how incredibly awesome America is - that is incessantly obvious.
The Journalism school here at Oregon emphasizes 100% infusion with mass media, social media, and multimedia 100% of the time. Basically if you are NOT on Twitter during class reading up on what Lamar Odom had for breakfast, well, you're... different. In a word- being overseas was strange at first because I could not experience the instant gratification and now-now-now lifestyle I previously basked in. To catch up, I thought I would look at each major sport association (Hell yeah I am including the MLS) and examine where that association was in August of 2011, and see where it is now.

MLB
August- St. Louis was 10.5 games out of first place in a division which only had 2 out of 6 teams over .500
Now- St. Louis did what? Whats that? Old news? Still ridiculous. That means the Mariners have hope this year, even if we trade away a phenomenal rookie pitcher. (Cue the Dumb and Dumber line: "So you're tellin' me there's a CHANCE!") Pshhh who needs Pineda anyways...  I swear Seattle is a New York Yankees farm team. First John Olerud, now THIS!? BLASPHEMY!

NBA
August-A pathetic lockout drudged on in the shadow of the NFL's own relationship between rich hood-rats and richer owners. Players were putting on Pro-Am shows to stay in shape, and everyone thought Kobe was going to Italy.
Now- A season is well underway, with me fully on the Clippers bandwagon. Shoulda gone to Italy, eh Kobe?

NFL
August- Players were scrambling to get into shape, as the lockout ended and many thought a season would not even happen. Also, most San Francisco fans were ready for another sub-.500 season. Weird.
Now- The Packers are out. WTF OMG That is all.

NHL
August- Who knows, and who cares, really.
Now- My Canucks are struggling after a mental and physical beating by those blasted Bruins a few weeks ago, and the St. Louis Blues are surprisingly good. What's going on in that city!?

MLS
August- Teams were mid-season in a season that proved to be quite entertaining, even with my Sounders under-preforming in the playoffs yet again. The Galaxy had the West Conference locked up by this time, and were heavy favorites to win the Cup.
Now- Well, the Galaxy didn't win, and arguably two of the biggest stars in the league, Robbie Keane and Thierry Henry, depart for European Clubs on loan. Great. Hey, at least the Sounders had a good draft!

Yeah, admittedly I missed quite a bit, both when overseas and in this post. (No need to discuss the Ducks. I'm still celebrating from the Rose Bowl, and won't let LaMike or Darron ruin it.) But it is good to be back, and it is great to be current on Lamar Odom's diet as well.