Meteor showers and Young Galaxies

A meteor shower has been easy to see the last few nights in New Hampshire, and somehow, I think it was all publicity for today's release of Young Galaxy's self-titled debut (buy it here). Young Galaxy is a b'girl band of Stephen Ramsay and Catherine McCandless, with both trading vocal roles. They show quite a bit of range from an almost shoegaze "The Sun Is Going Up and My Plane Is Going Down" to the quite folky "Embers". "Outside the City" is a bit more rocky and comes at a good time. The opener "Swing Your Heartache" has received a bit of press, and sounds like the 90s really influenced its sound. I'm a fan of these guys, especially when they sing together, thus showing the benefits of a b'girl band. My favorite song on the album has to be "Searchlight" though; its a short little drum-lead sing-a-long.

In other news, I rode on a motorcycle today for the first time since my aunt's accident. It was surprisingly nice to have the wind just blowing and feeling free. Back to the lab.

Breaking Up: Owen Styl

Breaking up sucks. You spend so much energy getting to know a person, finding things you really like about them, and then it just falls apart. Its even worse when you both fall in love and become so emotionally invested in each other. As a side note: I'm completely happy I did it; I just don't know what I'm supposed to do now.

Owen (Mike Kinsella) is a breakerupper's medication. He helps you wallow in self-pity (even when it was completely not your fault) while getting over the stupid person that broke your heart.


Here are three of his takes on breaking up:
Owen "Who Found Who's Hair in Who's Bed?" -Simply knowing that something is going on with someone else drops your heart down into your stomach. At first you try to tell yourself that its not happening, but then you realize that that's that. Its not your fault. People make really fucked up decisions, and this is the song I've been listening to repeat for the last few days. Its got a relaxed beat that calms me down and keeps me from getting riled up. Simple guitar picking and layering with a well-you-sure-messed-up tone are perfect balance that let you get on with your life.

Owen "The Ghost of What Should Have Been" - This is for all of those who keep getting reminded of that significant other. Its the little things that hurt the worst, and for Owen its an avacado pit. How someone can move on so quickly after a long relationship really suprises me sometimes, but it could be that they are just running away from it all. So when you feel haunted by the ghost....

Owen "The Sad Waltzes of Pietro Crespi" - It was just my luck that I first heard this song right as I was reading One Hundred Years of Solitude. Pietro Crespi is this incredibly beautiful, charming foreigner that comes to the town of Macondo and brings European novelties such as music boxes, movies, and harpsichords to this small jungle town. He goes through a lot of pain but is always there. It reminds me that life moves on and there is always someone better. I almost wish I could date Pietro Crespi and receive love notes.

Good Friends = Good Music

Yes, one of my best friends is coming out to Hanover this week. I'm super excited cause he is like the first friend to actually make the trek out east to see me. So much has gone on this weekend, but it ended nicely (me drinking Guiness in Boston with some cool people and napping the whole way home). My family also made a semi-suprise visit up to New Hampshire, so I was delighted in showing them the school and making my sister want to come here.

Anyhow, Jon and I have been friends since fourth grade. He's going to be a writer or soemthing like that some day. Anyhow, the first present I got him was Third Eye Blind's Self-Titled Album. It was our favorite and of course we didn't realize how bad the lyrics actually were (honestly, who thought "Doing crystal meth will lift you up until you break" was a drug reference?).

Third Eye Blind "Semi-Charmed Life" I should mention that they are coming to Dartmouth very soon.

And Jon's favorite band, I think, is Kings of Leon. He got me into liking them with this song off of Youth and Young Manhood. "Wasted Time" Oh yah, their ablum Because of the Times came out almost a week ago. I like it from few listens.

Mexico

Yah, I was in Mexico for the last few months and thus didn't post because my internet was the slowest thing ever. At home, I sat on top of my dresser to get the tiniest signal to check blitz. It was awesome. I'm glad to be back, but at the same time I miss so many things about our southern neighbor.

The Sun "Mexico" (buy Sun's Greatest Hits)

I lived in the wonderful city of Puebla, home of mole poblano, Cinco de Mayo, and of course, La Franja. In the family I lived with, my brother Chero played this professional soccer team. I would go to all the games and sing crazy songs like "Soy Poblano". I miss it a lot.

And I fell in love with Mexican food and culture. Here are a few songs that played on heavy roation:
Julieta Venegas "Eres Para Mi" (buy Limon y Sol)- This is latin pop with North American and Brit influences. It translates to you are for me. Yah, cheezy but the video is just as tongue in cheek.
Nikki Clan "No Me Digas Que No" (buy Nikki Clan)- We rocked out to this song quite often and for most of the time we didn't bother with any lyrics but "NO ME DIGAS QUE NOOOOOOOOOOOO". Yes, we were the easy to spot drunk Americans, but hey, at least when we were on break in Acapulco we could get the people to give us discounts cause we weren't that gringo.

BONUS: Cause I know y'all aren't all fans of Spanish language music, here is a little Iron & Wine "Jesus, the Mexican Boy". Its my favorite Sam Beam song and it reminds me of some of the countryside we saw.