while most of my friends and people my age spend their friday nights by possibly getting wasted and partying it up, i spend mine watching sad movies...i quite like crying, as lame as it sounds i feel as if it cleanses my soul or something. so with that premise in mind, and due to my increasing andrew garfield obsession, i decided to watch never let me go.

i think it's safe to say no other movie has ever made me cry that way, the film is heart-breaking and so raw and honest, i do not believe it is just a love story, i think there was more to it, i saw it as a character study, which exposes from a very dark point of view the very core of humanity and it's struggles with morality and values.

that being said, the love story is told with such tenderness, a romance that grows throughout the years and that meets it's sad demise leaving the main character with a new life perspective that even though fits well into the live she's lead, also accommodates what all of us as humans go through

i watched blue valentine today, it is a heart-breaking movie...i cried about four times during it, probably for all the wrong reasons..i just couldn't stop thinking "that's how life is...nothing lasts forever, not even love..if there's even such thing". the movie is flawless, ryan gosling and michelle williams deliver one of the best performances i've ever seen, i could feel what they were feeling..i understood both of them, which made it that much harder for me.

i do not want to say too much about it, i don't want to give the plot away..but i do recommend every one to go out and see it, and i guarantee if you are a self-called hopeless romantic like i am, you'll tear up a bit...oh and by the way, why does ryan gosling insists on portraying perfect men that do not exist? it's really fucking up with my generation's ideal of love

RITUAL

patience is definitely not one of my traits, maybe that explains why i caved in an downloaded white lies' new record ritual. i'm still going to buy it, though. i just couldn't handle people talking about it without having listen to it myself. that being said, it's time to review it (how serious do i sound?)

if there's anything white lies are good at is making records. a lot has being said about their touring abilities, harry's voice does struggle during live performances, but no one can deny that when they deliver a record, they deliver. and ritual is no exception. there are some pleasant surprises, for starters it is evident how much they've grown on their instruments, the sound is sharper and neater than on previous recordings, and i do believe they were trying to take some chances on this one, hence the prevalence of the synth. still, i do prefer the guitar-driven tracks to the synth-driven ones, and maybe that's the one complain i have regarding this record...i do care for some synth every now and then, but the whole record at times seems to be synth-centered which distracts from the lyrics and over-all beat.

speaking of lyrics, i do believe i've said in the past that white lies are not a band one should listen alone with the lights turned out (believe me, i made that mistake...dark thoughts that shall not be mentioned crushed my mind), harry's approach to song-writing and story-telling is dark and tenebrous, yet his lyrics manage to convey a sense of honesty that saves them from being gimmicky. ritual is a clear exponent of that ability, throughout the record we find harry nearly shouting with a clear sense of urgency, second track strangers even delivers the lyric

i've got a sense of urgency

i've gotta make this happen

no stone unturned

i've got a sense of urgency

i've gotta make something happen

no stone unturned 

that sense of urgency carries throughout the record, alongside with the usual darkness white lies has us accustomed to.

for some reason, white lies' approach to love and everything that the feeling itself embodies has always called my attention, i think there's some rawness to the way it is conveyed by them. bad love is not only one of the highlights of the record, but it also has some of the best lyrics, words that show why white lies will never be a love, romantic, sappy band

i've been going to church

but i don't believe

i'll ever clear this pain

walk like a ghost through the streets

soaked from the pouring rain

and i won't ask your god for mercy

my spirits are low, my soul is dirty

low spirit and dirty soul, that we can relate to more than rainbows and butterflies.

this journey comes to an end with come down, the beautifully heart-breaking final track that evidently serves as the closure to this ritual

i know i'd be welcome but tell me how far

ceremonial knocks sound the gaps in my heart-beat

and i'll never be good enough for you or for me

i've buried my pride, i've buried my key  

in conclusion, white lies' ritual is not a record that shines with the promise of leaving you a new approach to life, it does not promise to light up your day or make you feel good when you're feeling down, quite the opposite. but it will more likely force you to encounter the darkest and most hidden places of your heart, mind and soul and that's a promise that cannot be discarded.  

yesterday i mentioned there are some artists i'm really excited about that will release their first proper record this year (hopefully), so i thought it would be nice to make a little post about them. i'm always out on the look for new music, and people always ask me how i stumble upon new bands, and i guess what's been more helpful for me is keeping track of bands that are out supporting some of my favorites on tour. anyways, that being said here are some bands that are yet to release a record and i'm dying to hear what they come up with 

two wounded birds

they released keep dreaming baby an amazing ep that made fall in love with them. their supporting slot with the drums was what first caught my eye, their unique sound is refreshing and i couldn't help but notice that there's some rockabilly influence in it, and well..i'm a sucker for all things rockabilly. the past few months have been rough on me, the weather is crap and i don't do well with cold climate, and maybe that's the reason i've been attracted to bands that remind me of the summer, and two wounded birds are just that, their fresh-surf rock-breezy feel transports me to a sunshine state and it's just what i need to get me through the cold. i can't wait to hear what they come up with, it'll be interesting considering that lo-fi surf rock bands have gained a lot of attention in the past months, i really hope they can come up with something refreshing that sets them apart from other hyped bands. song recommendation: take me to the beach 

pet moon

having heard just three songs, pet moon has really caught my attention with a sound so unique that's impossible not to hear the songs more than once. the songs definitely have a certain appeal that allows every listen to be a completely different experience, i keep coming up with a different feel every time, and that's a quality that i truly admire in artists, the ability to tie so many feelings and experiences with just one song, and that's the promise of the journey with pet moon, the endless possibility of emotions that take place while listening to a song that surprises every time. i hope that quality doesn't fade once the record is released. song recommendation: ganger

the vaccines

a lot of hype surrounding this band lately, which makes me nervous because i'm always hesitant when it comes to overly-hyped bands, but one things is for sure: the vaccines are worth the hype. their approach is simple yet spot on: flowy guitars alongside an upbeat meter accompanied by mild but still so saying lyrics. following the hype they certainly have a lot to prove, and i think they're up for the challenge, it'll be interesting to see if they can apply that formula to a whole record without it sounding repetitive and mimicked, i have faith they can pull it off. song recommendation: all in white

trophy wife
maybe i should move to oxford, i definitely should move to oxford. trophy wife's microlite release was one of the highlights of last year for me. i quite like bands that don't settle for being safe, and this band covered joanna newsom which sealed the deal for me because any band that can pull that off is great in my book. their sound is distinctive but familiar and that's the challenge they have to surpass because being labeled as math-rock is already setting up a stigma and the only way to get rid of it is proving the ability to come up with a unique sound that cannot be categorized or labeled. i still think they are up for the challenge. song recommendation: microlite (acoustic) 

lucy rose

it's impossible not to fall in love with lucy rose's voice. she has gained some recognition due to her collaboration with bombay bicycle club, and without any doubt the combination of lucy's and jack's voice is heavenly, but her voice alone is already breathtaking. it was about time another girl with fantastic voice and mind-blowing lyrics came along, lucy rose is up there with laura marling proving that girls don't have to dance, expose their bodies and sing songs about seduction in order to prove their talent and gain recognition, lucy is just like any other girl and that's why it is easy to relate to her, but the thing that sets her apart is quite evidently her vulnerability and the ability to turn that vulnerability into amazing songs. song recommendation: bikes 

egyptian hip hop

talk about hyped bands...but still some reptiles grew wings made it all the way to my favorite releases of 2010. there's a certain quality about this band that can't be denied, their sound is refreshing and quite honestly the whole band persona is refreshing as well. maybe that novelty was what made them noticeable, but they do have the songs to back it off, and it just takes one listen to realize it. they have songs that make you want to dance without feeling guilty about it, they are a smart feel-good band, and once the novelty wears off they'll still have that same vibe that sets them apart from other bands. song recommendation: moon crooner

there are other artists that come to my mind, but i figured this were the ones that have more to prove this year, hopefully i won't be let down. 

2011 is shaping up to be a great year, i know it's only starting and maybe i'm getting way ahead of myself but for some reason i'm really positive. i know i've said before that the worst things about new years is finding out that nothing's changed...but i plan on doing a lot of changes this year, and i mean personal changes because in all honesty i'm done with being negative all the time and always expecting the worst, i mean, i'm 21!! my head shouldn't be this messy.

but me being me, of course, the thing i'm most excited about this year is the fact that my favorite band is coming up with a new album, it's just what i needed since nothing makes me happier than the maccabees so i'm certain they'll help me out with my new motto of positive thinking. an on the topic of new records, 2011 will be a great year, the strokes are making a comeback, bombaby bicycle club will have a release, so will laura marling..over all it is pretty exciting! but i've been obsessing over some bands that have yet to release a record and i'll post about them tomorrow, but today and because it is my first post and i want to have a great start..this post is dedicated to the maccabees and the hope for a great new record that hopefully will help me along my 2011 venture