Friday, December 31, 2010

My Top ALBUMS of 2010

So, I have a bunch of favourite bands/artists that I listened to this year, but I'll limit this final, year ending, post to my choices for the top ALBUMS of 2010! There was a lot of great music released this year, and I don't like to restrict the list to only 10, BUT, 10 is a nice number for these kinds of things. I would love to explain my selections, but I do not want to make this post long and exhausting... so I'll list my top 10 and then give a few honourable mentions, okay?
Sweet, here we go:

10. Broken Bells - Broken Bells

9. Jónsi - Go Do

8. Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

7. Vampire Weekend - Contra

6. The Black Keys - Brothers

5. Stars - The Five Ghosts

4. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

3. Shad - TSOL

2. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

And FINALLY... (drum roll please)...

1. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

This Montreal band has been around for some time, and with this album they just showed how amazing they still ARE! Everything is good about this album, plus it most likely got the top spot because I saw them perform live!
... Life changing.

Honourable Mentions:

Dan Black - Symphonies
(only because it was released in late December of '09, and because "Symphonies (feat. Kid Cudi)" was released in 2010... SO GOOD!)

Library Voices - Denim on Denim
(this, along with The Five Ghosts, was in my car's CD player all summer!)

The National - High Violet
(because I haven't listened to the entire album, and I love them!)

Caribou - Swim
(because he's from my old town of London, Ontario, and also because I haven't listened to the entire album!)

Jars of Clay - The Shelter
(because they continuously create pure quality albums!)

The Roots - How I Got Over
(because they're THE Roots!)

Florence + The Machine - Lungs
(just because I can tell that it's good!)

I'm probably missing a bunch, but there ya go. Can't wait for 2011. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

p.s. Party party; and be safe... after all, safety is its own reward.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Registration Procrastination

Well, I've finally registered for next term's courses and this is actually "early" for me to do so, compared to previous experiences! And yet...

Life Lesson: Sooner's better than later.

Even though I'm still pretty late, this is an ideal Life Lesson for me, because I have yet to learn... so, in my defense:

Life Lesson: Better late, than never.

P.s. I'm gonna release my favourite albums of the year either today or tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

ExtraOrdinary RELEASE

Jan. 08/11... Lo Pub, 9 o'clock, $8, BE THERE! SungKnows! presents...

Sungknows! Presents Saint Kris & Royal Canoe from Nice! Productions on Vimeo.

SungKnows wants you to get ready to “Party Party” people! ExtraOrdinary the 2nd Mixtape from local hip-hop artist Saint Kris is about to drop! January 8th @ The LoPub will be the official venue of the mixtape release party. Also performing that night will be local indie rock sensations Royal Canoe. So put your dancing shoes on!

Doors Open at 9
$8 @ the Door

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Object Permanence (Song Studying)

WOW, I am DONE another term! Boom, I'm so relieved. Yesterday I realized that I haven't done a Song Studying Session in a very long time, so I decided to capture a certain section of my Child Development course text-book, and share it... in song. Object permanence happened to be the subject on hand, so, here we go again; check out my third installment of Song Studying! I took footage from two improv takes and meshed them together to get a somewhat funny, creative outcome... Enjoy! Ignore the bad editing in the beginning, it was my first time using iMovie...

Object Permanence (Song Studying) from MannyG on Vimeo.

p.s. Shout-out to Joel Eisner who is the biggest Song Studying fan. This is for YOU; and any other procrastinating/cramming/tired-of-school student!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Boyz N' the Bode: And The Room 111 (Canadian) Experience

Here it is! I laughed so hard while watching this again, just 'cause it's improv and it's pretty BAD improv!! We shot this at Bodenseehof Bible School in 2007 for our Nationality Night. This gives you a little taste of the school and also of Fischbach, Germany, where it is located. Enjoy, as we have some fun with our Canadian stereotypes amongst other things... Ahhh good TIMES!

Boyz N' the Bode: A Room 111 (Canadian) Experience from MannyG on Vimeo.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Ode to Thursday Nights

Well, it's a Thursday night and Survivor club was cancelled (yes, I'm in a "club" that hangs out on Thursdays and watches the latest Survivor episode... not ashamed at all), SO I'm stuck doing nothing at home, and I'm quite bored. I can't watch the Leafs' game because they're getting pummelled by Philly, so I'll blog instead, and ramble for the first time in a LONG time!

Life Lesson: Always have a back-up plan.

Alright, I think it's time that I posted another video on Vimeo from my archives... this one was shot at Bodenseehof a few years ago for Nationality Night and it's about us Canadians and some of our stereotypes. I'll get to work on that right now. I still have that Red River Risin' vlog to edit too... Ha, I'll get to that someday too hopefully!

But before I post that Bode vid, I'll let you listen in on a rare Skype recording. It simply illustrates the struggles of delay between three geographically separated musicians, aspiring to play "Ode to Joy" together via Skype. On the trumpet was yours truly, Manuel, on the mouth organ [harmonica], from the 'Mid-North Metropolis' of Minneapolis/St. Paul, was Laura, and on the guitar was Lazy J himself, Kyle, from Sacramento, California. Enjoy...

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Played Like A Fiddle

I just topped my best 'pulled-over' story, even though this was only the second time it has happened to me. UNREAL. This is what occurred:

First of all, Kanye West's new album is CRAZY. I could go on and review his unique masterpiece, but let me just say that it pumps me UP! And because of that, it sort of ties into this story...

I was leaving my friend's house Monday night after having the traditional pizza hangout that follows our time at floor hockey. I noticed that as I was turning around on the street, a car was pulling out of a drive-way behind me, but of course I thought nothing of it. Cue Kanye. "Monster" was playing and this song makes me automatically speed, I can't help it. This caused me to pull out of the side street on to the main drag pretty fast. However, I casually took my place in the middle lane with control, then stopped and waited at the following red light. I looked in my rear view mirrors and noticed how the lights directly behind me looked a lot like cop headlights; again, I didn't think much of it! I decided to be cautious and proceeded on green while obeying the speed limitations exactly. At that instant the blue and red lights flicked on and I immediately pulled over. I was very much confused because I could not think of what I had done wrong (side note: Again, I was pulled-over after floor hockey... now I will be extra cautious on Monday nights in the future)! Here is my account of the conversation that ensued:

*skipping the introductory license-and-registration small talk*

Cop (Driver): "You pulled out pretty fast from that back street, back there. Where were you coming from?"

Myself: "I was just at my friend's house, and now I'm going home."

Cop (Driver): "K, where does your friend live and where is home for you?"

Myself: "He actually lives on that side street (I gave the exact address) and I live in (I gave him my area of the city)."

Cop (Driver): "Alright, just sit here for a second." *As he walked back to the cruiser*

At this point I couldn't believe my luck and thought that it was just a random check. I was mistaken, and was about to be taken aback due to what was about to happen...

*A couple minutes later the cruiser began to move slowly and crept up beside me, getting as close as possible! I knew I was being let off the hook... but something didn't feel right.*

Cop (Passenger): "Is this house a druggie house? Were you boys doin' drugs?"

Myself: *shocked* "Uh... no we weren't, and no, it's not at all." (My face probably went blank as I felt my eyes widen with innocence. I couldn't believe he just asked me that)

Cop (Passenger): "Okay, so what were you boys doing then?"

Myself: "We just finished floor hockey over at McIvor Church and just had some pizza, hanging out in the basement."

Cop (Passenger): *sarcastically* "Oh, he uses the Church line!"

Myself: "Well, believe it or not... (I look away in bewilderment) it's true! That's what happened!" *as I convey my innocence*

Cop (Passenger): "Does your buddy have a name, or what?"

Myself: "Andrew (last name)."

Cop (Passenger): *laughing* "I know! I'm his neighbour! Gerald & Michelle come over all the time. Gerald comes hunting with me. Do you know my son Hunter? I send my kids to McIvor Church!"

Myself: *RELIEVED in DISBELIEF* "No, but I know of him." *chuckling nervously*

Cop (Passenger): "Ha, was Jade there?" (Andrew's girlfriend)

Myself: *laughing* "No she wasn't there tonight."

Cop (Passenger): "That whole time back there I was thinking of what I should say. I don't have Andrew's number, otherwise I'd call him!"

Myself: *still in shock* "Don't worry, I'll for sure tell him! You got me pretty good! Wow, that's great. I was so nervous."

Cop (Passenger): *laughing* "Alright, you get home safely and drive slow! Take care."

Myself: "Okay, take care." *as I let out a massive sigh of relief while watching them drive away*

It all suddenly made sense. I realized that the car that had pulled out of the drive-way in the beginning was in fact, the cruiser! They had followed me the whole time.

WOW... I got played like a fiddle.

Friday, December 3, 2010

TikTok... and it's not Ke$ha

Boom, this is what I was waiting for! Check it out!



... Too bad the nano doesn't come with the watch.

Ps. I can't believe I put Ke$ha in one of my blog titles.

My Vimeo Favourites

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