Best Birthday EVER

Who knew that turning 20, or being in Limbo for a year (out of teenage years but not quite an adult yet), would be so amazing! Not only did bestest pals come over to share my mom's Asian fresh-fruit-freshly-whipped-cream, but more of my bestest pals threw a surprise party the very next day! Boy was I surprised for sure. I came home to complete darkness and confusion as to why there were streamers at the entrance, and Section N popped up from behind the counter when I turned the lights on! Oh, you guys.

Some pictures to show how wonderful my pals are:
Limbo, Take One:
Surprise!OMGZ! You GUYZZZ!!Spraying Stacey's face purple:Oh boy, is a girl lucky to have to such creme de la creme friends. I love you!

Currently Listening to:
MP3: Ladytron - Black Cat (from upcoming Velocifero album due 06/03)

Notes to Self

Thursday:
-Flats for Digital
-Alternate colorway for prints

Friday:
-Intro to Design Test
-History of Clothing Test

Monday:
-Dress due

Tuesday:
-Concept development for eveningwear
-London Fashion Week report
-Paris Fashion Week report
-Menswear shopping report
-Group project due

To buy:
-Milk
-Sugar
-Black and light umber pencils
-Black and white gouache
-Gold and silver gouache

Head Over Heals

I've recently watched Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amélie (I know, I've been living under a rock for the past 7 years) and immediately took to the soundtrack and fell face-first into Yann Tiersen's melodica, piano, toy piano, harpsichord, typewriter, accordion, etc. etc.

He's really a fantastic composer and performer. Definitely not anything like Philip Glass or conventional classical, but undoubtedly a multi-talented man, like Andrew Bird, except more folk-y and French (+25 pts.).

Tiersen also composed for Wolfgang Beckford's Goodbye, Lenin!, another great film, especially if you're into history and Germany.

Looks like I'll be grabbing copies of all of Tiersen's music.

Devoted to Devotchka

On Severe Repeat:
Devotchka - Charlotte Mittnanct (The Fabulous Destiny Of...)

Refer to newly added imeem playlist on the right.

Spring Break has been nice, I guess. I really haven't done anything; watched movies, tried to do homework, slept, played with the babies, read, mucked around, mailed some bills, listened to music, brushed my teeth, drank coffee, ate a few boiled eggs, cleaned, made a mess, cleaned, went to buy some zippers, hooks and eyes, a loop turner, a sweater, went to McCarren Park, talked on the phone. All that fun stuff.

Everyone is back on the West Coast and it like, sucks. Hopefully the weather is nicer tomorrow so I can take a trip to the aquarium or something. Snore ZzZzZzzzZZZ. School sucks so hard, I just really want it to be summer already!

Also, the thought of going into knitwear keeps crossing my mind. But that'd mean transferring to FIT and I simply refuse to let all this blood, sweat, tears and Parsons paper go to waste. I guess I'll just have to take some knitwear electives (in addition to patternmaking, fuck you Parsons) during the summer.

Eh, been feeling kinda down lately. Too much on my mind, and I no longer enjoy school.

My Crystal Castles

Crystal Castles' long-anticipated self-titled debut album hit stores this morning. Finally.

Their previously released singles, "Crimewave," "Alice Practice" and "xxzxcuzx Me" earned many fans through old-school Atari video game beeps and buzzes, obnoxious screaming into the microphone and otherwise low-production recording. I started listening to them over a year ago, so the release of this album was really, a treat.

Crystal Castles' debut album is surprisingly refreshing. One might make the judgment, based on their previously released singles that the album would be filled with interchangeable tracks. But it's not! In fact, their sounds are almost all over the place. The album even closes with an acoustic track titled "Tell Me What to Swallow."

"Untrust Us" and "Magic Spells" are the less aggressive electronic tracks, providing a steady body-bopping track. The essence of Crystal Castles contains repeated and remixed low-fi indecipherable vocals in echoes, subtle remixes of the synthesizer and new wave influences, Atari sound effects and a coolly-modest attitude that I feel from the star-shy Toronto-based duo. The things I'd do to see them perform in Brussels with Yelle. The things. I would do.

Nonetheless I'm definitely looking forward to dancing with them next Tuesday at Studio B.

Currently Listening to:
Crystal Castles - Magic Spells

MP3: Crystal Castles - Crimewave

Hard for Hardy

I want them. I'm going to Nordstrom just to look at the price tag and groan. Will post price and groaning later.

Currently Listening to:
Janet Jackson - Rock With U

ANTS IN MY PANTS!!

We have ants!! I can hang from my couch watching these ants eat the poison then vomit it up back in their nests to kill their homeboys and Queenie. It's really fascinating. I recommend clicking on these thumbnails to see these fellows up close:

Currently Listening to:
Yann Tiersen - J'y Suis Jamais Alle

Craft Paper

Experimental doodles; I liked:
Currently Listening to:
Human League vs. Benassi Bros. - Don't You Want to Time

To the Beach House

Beach House's latest album Devotion, with a pair of great headphones, is enough to make you forget about the world and calm your mind. Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally's soft and dreamy voice echoes along with the gentle tambourines, guitar, drum brushes, soft shakers and long organ chords.

Their last album contained less percussion, causing most of the music to sound washed out. Devotion has just the perfect amount of crisp for a clear, but still dreamy and fantastic sound. "Wedding Bells," "Holy Dances," and "Gila" are outstanding tracks.

They're simply charming and I adore this album.

MP3: Beach House - Gila