La vida es un carnaval....

Okay, it's not but you believed me for a second didn't you? Well at least last night was a carnival because the incredible Sergio Mendes came to thrill Toronto with his incredible music and he played this right off the bat! He was (as expected) incredible, a true MC and he had some incredible back-up (sorry I'm simply gobsmacked) in his band and singers . This was all in support of the PanAm Games closing ceremonies in an event quite accurately dubbed Panamania. Which saw the likes of Mariana's Trench, Tessanne Chin, A Tribe Called Red, Colin James, Jully Black, Wyclef Jean, Serena Ryder, Calypso Rose and Kobo Town and so many more. Impending Panamania includes: Janelle Monae, Jann Arden, A Tribe Called Red, The Roots and many more.

Anyway, as expected I made a playlist in preparation for Sergio Mendes' arrival and it is as exciting as it appears, ladies and gents your Spanish music playlist (okay, the name kinda sucks). I must warn you that as I am now on deezer, as opposed to the newly defunct grooveshark, I don't believe this is viewable on your smart little phones unless you have a deezer account. Therefore, either sign up for deezer or listen on your laptop! Enjoy, beautiful people!!

Uh-oh-ohhhhh

While I haven't got the right stuff yet I do have new playlists but unfortunately they are on deezer and I'm pretty sure you need an account to hear them. Getting back into that gym life myself so if you wanna wanna hear some bitchin' gym tunes, sign up with deezer and clicky-click above so you can get yo' fit on.

In the meantime I'm songwriting and looking for some gigs to book. Wrote a sweet folk-y, country ditty the other day with my friend Rachel E Robinson called "Homewrecker", just kidding. It's called "When You Love Me Like That" and I may one day venture out into the folk-y, country territory and release it on an EP with Cheap Bottle of Wine and No Way Now.

 I do have a sweet spot for country music and my latest crush is on a fabulous singer named Mickey Guyton, all her songs have (quite happily) been in my head for the last week, I sure hope she books a show in the T-dot, as I'd love to see her perform live. Wonderful!

Another current obsession. Nick Jonas' album, don't judge me. Okay, okay judge me, I deserve it but this album is A-freaking-K with me. It's on repeat all day, errrr-day. I highly recommend it, especially in the gym. Speaking of gym-ing, my girl Katrina's instagram account, she is not only fit as *beep* but an incredible make-up artist to boot. If you want that summer body inspiration or tips on how to do a cat-eye then follow her, follow her to the ends of the eaaaaaaarth!!!

Well that's it my peeps, I'm out. I hope you get a deezer account so you can hear my new playlists ( I tried to replicate the Beverly Hills 90210 playlist as best I could) and so you can support the musicians (who apparently weren't getting money for streaming their wares on grooveshark) and I hope you have a faaaaabulous week!!


Ta!

Friends of Canadian Broadcasting launch anti-Harper ad

He's dead, Jim!

Sooooo .......my apologies at the prolongued absence, I have been floundering (and slightly virus-y or allergy-y haven't figured out which yet)

Grooveshark has gone to that great big puppy rescue in the sky, randomly, unceremoniously and very very suddenly and it has taken with it my incredibly awesome playlists. So here's this and I'll see you all when I figure it out. Cheers to regrouping?


P.S Today they passed a bill in my country to take us one step closer to The Handmaid's Tale. Margaret Atwood would like us all to know that that was a work of FICTION and in no way representative of some kind of Government for Dummies Handbook.

P.P.S Yesterday, famously right-leaning Alberta (whom we all like to jokingly refer to as America or Texas (and will probably have to stop doing now) to amuse and console us) voted in a Provincial NDP government for the first time in history!!! Might I also add they voted in the most women EVER!! I'm going to hold on to that hope irrespective of C-51 Trudeau/Harper nonsense (and now C-24 catastrophe) and hold onto this quote:

"Let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic and we will change the world." Jack Layton

Oh you silly silly "superheroes"....

Avengers: 2 Age of Ultron press tour is making all sorts of news, and not in a good way. If you've just tuned in, Robert Downey Jr. is still a jerk and Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner are currently vying (hard) for his title. Robert Downey Jr made headlines this past week for storming out of an interview after being confronted with his drug-addled past, hot on the heels of this muddy affair Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner made headlines by calling Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow a "slut" and a "whore" and agreeing when the interviewer (erroneously) declared that Natasha Romanova would always be a sidekick and that no Avengers fan had any interest in seeing her spinoff into her own movie or series. As if that weren't enough Robert Downey Jr scored the cast a trifecta (in the worst way) when he inferred that it was impressive that Birdman Director and Oscar winner Alejandro Inarritu could manage (in his bilingual state) to string together the words "cultural genocide" in response to a question regarding Inarritu's (well-informed and intelligent) opinion on superhero movies. If in the next week any of the cast happens to have errant words to absently hurl at the LGBQT community than they will have successfully covered all the isms with homophobia as the brass ring. Truly a great feat.

As a comic book fan this disappoints me verily so I thought to take a step back a few years (try a few decades) and create a playlist that is reminiscent of a time when social media didn't exist and youtube didn't unveil the sad, stupid people that some unfortunate celebrities turn out to be. It is certainly in my opinion its own little Shakespearean tragedy that people in such a beautiful situation can turn out so entitled and solipsistic but, it is what it is, and the 90s (and early 2000s) were what they were which frankly was....better (at least musically and culturally) so here we are and here's your playlist and all I can say is if the sexism unveiled from Captain America and Hawkeye...wait who?,(I know, he's irrelevant to me too) bothers you too, there's always tumblr all the feminists and good human beings hang out there, (and they make gifs about it!) so with that I bid you a good great week and do enjoy your trip down memory lane! Enjoy the music and the (lack of) mayhem.

Later kittens!

Blogus Interuptus!

Sorry guys, this week's blog has been pre-empted by school but will be back NEXT WEEK!! In full swing! Have a great humpday y'all! HAPPY EARTH DAY!!! Be excellent to each other!

Spring is COMING!!!!!! (yeah GoT, take that!)

Sooooo like....beach bods or what? Technically it wouldn't be beach bods here in the old T-dot since we don't have a beach we can effectively swim at unless we travel on up to Wasaga or Picton, but hey there's always vacation and pools. So I have put together a little Gymmie Jam playlist to get you sweatin' to the oldies (aside: remember that CD? they used to sell it late at night after all the good shows had gone of the air, I think it was Richard Simmons, ah the golden age?) just kidding, they're not oldies, just a lot of cool vibey----> dubstep-y, rock, aggressive----> calm vibey stuff to get you warmed up, in the zone and cooled down again. Your intrepid Gymmie Jam Playlist :)

What's that? Oh you're having trouble getting in the spirit you say? No problem, I've already written a movie prescription for you and it is thusly: 

Stick It this movie I actually prefer to Bring it On, not that it's a competition but it is from the same writer. This movie SLAYS. It it will sure get you off your butt quick quick.

Fast Girls this movie is sort of a Bend it Like Beckham on the track and it's quite wonderful. There's a great scene where the girls are receiving unwanted attention from a bunch of brutes and they deal with them appropriately then take off. You worry about them briefly until you realize that they.are.track.stars. and with good reason. The dudes didn't have a chance. (you can find this movie on youtube)

Blue Crush oh this movie is fantastic and it features Kate Bosworth, in the best shape of her entire life and my #FastFam homegirl Michelle Rodriguez surfing like their lives depend on it. Look out for newcomer and Hawaiian native Sanoe Lake as the 3rd amigo in the girl power trio (and she also has a song in the film) This movie made me obsessed with muscles and going to Hawaii and I'm proud to say that I've now attained both goals.

T2 oh c'mon! Linda Hamilton. Need I say more? It's also worth noting that James Cameron, while known worldwide for his douchebaggery couldn't write a weak female character if he tried (and thank god for that) the dude is a hardcore feminist (on film at least) so you can pretty much add any movie he has directed to this list and you're bound to see a woman kicking ass.

(Bonus trivia) at the time Terminator 2 came it it was most certainly a leader in terms of Industrial Light and Magic, the ever mutating T-1000 was something entirely new to the industry and very exciting. Anyway if you want motivation for the gym, just watch Linda Hamilton in that film.

Step Up 3 this is my favourite of all the Step Up films (although 4 is a favourite as well) if you want body-moving motivation then here it is baby! (soundtrack is sick too)

So there's some films to get you started, feel free to post your favourite fit motivational films or music and get to steppin' baby! Spring is finally COMING and we've damnwell earned it!

P.S If the movies and playlist don't do it for ya then follow Women's Health Mag or Men's Health Mag on twitter. They'll whip ya into shape for sure!

Peace Out Kittens!

Dance, nothing left for you to do but dance.....

Girls, Guys, it's time to dance. I know what you're thinking? Why the crap would I want to do that? Well, sometimes when life gives you a crapload of lemons you have to throw them under your feet and stomp on them with music and gusto and that my friends, is dancing. C'mon, you have to admit that when you see somebody shake it you get a little jumpy in your jeans. Pop it! Lock it! Don't worry about how you look, you can take a class or you can dance in your bedroom, hell you can have your friends over for a dance party, it's a journey folks, not a destination. Find a milonga in your area, or a dance class at the YMCA or take advantage of the cheap 3 introductory lessons at Arthur Murray, I guarantee you fun! Whether you're taking a tango class or a hip-hop class or heck even jazzercise just do it 'cause there's nothing like getting your body moving, moving and grooving baby!

C'mon y'all FUN (we're a little zombie obsessed here in the T-dot (d'you know they filmed ALL the Resident Evil movies here?) okay a lot zombie obsessed) remember fun? No? Well, s*&$!!!! We better get you reacquainted, start with Hairspray and work your way to the dance routine. Seriously, wherever you live in whatever country or province, or region or city, look up an opportunity to dance and take it! Do it for yourself man, you could do it for the children but I think you need more help than them right now. DO YOU, Y'ALL (didn't mean to yell I just really want you to shake it).

Well, as always, much much much love, sorry for the late post I've been in mourning and simultaneously icky with the flu), enjoy your week! Oh and BTW if you haven't gone to see Furious 7 go this week, do it #ForPaul. Here's a handy dandy Fast and Furious timeline for those who haven't seen all of the films. Keep in mind if you want the whole mythology there are actually 9 films and their chronological watching order is thusly:

1.The Fast and The Furious
2. 2 Fast 2 Furious
3. Better Luck Tomorrow (a film revolving around the character of Han Seoul-Oh directed by Justin Lin)
4. Los Bandoleros  ( a short film the fills in the gaps on Dom and Letty after the events of The Fast and the Furious)
5. Fast and Furious
6.Fast Five
7. Fast Six
8. Tokyo Drift
9. Furious 7


Just as (another) aside, this week's dancing playlist  is one of the longest playlists (I think the longest) that I've ever given you guys, because I want you to dance until you DROP!!! It has a warm-up and a cool-down so no excuses! It also has some great lyrical content, I've included some highlights below if you're into that, if not then just dance you bastard (just kidding you're not a bastard but you really should dance anyway):

"You keep dipping in until the well runs dry, I hope you don't get thirsty later" -Before You Hit The Ground

"You've got your gun and your bulletproof pride, you never run but you sure know how to hide."       -Bulletproof Pride

"Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead, yesterday is a promise that you've broken."
-This is Your Life

"This is a battle and it's your final last call, it was a trial you made a mistake, we know."
-Battle

"And I know we'll stand together when the world falls down. And I know that our forever's gonna start right now."
-This Girl

"Remember, remember never forget, all of your life has all been a test. You will find the gate that's open, even though your spirit's broken." -Isaac

"Shake me out of my misery, make me get out and wiggle it."
-Clap Your Hands

"Words can be like knives, they can cut you open."
-Bloodstream

"The generous truly know what will be given. If they don't stop, you know. The gates of heaven are always open and there's this God in the sky and the angels, how they sit, you know, in front of the light. And that's what it's about."
-Isaac


With love people
xo

04.03.15 For the #FastFam

This one's for my Fast and Furious Family.


Well, whether we're ready or not this Friday our movie comes out for the last time with our beloved Brian O'Conner. Furious 7 focuses on the vengeance of Owen Shaw's brother Ian (played by the exciting Jason Statham) with the startling (yet expected) murder of Han Seoul-Oh. Who appeared in four Fast and Furious films and a previous Justin Lin film entitled Better Luck Tomorrow. A fan favourite, he moved to Tokyo after the death of his beloved (and our beloved) Gisele Yashar.

I was (of course) very, very excited for this film after Fast 6. So beyond impressed in a franchise that managed to take its worst film (Tokyo Drift) and turn it into the most important and pivotal one of the series some six years later.  Turning Tokyo Drift effectively into the 6th movie of the franchise instead of the third and tying in moments that previously seemed insignificant, like a cameo from Vin Diesel and the erratic behaviour of previously zen-like Han into key moments in the franchise. The Fast series has always gone above and beyond to be much better than it needed to be but it just seemed more and more to be ageing like a fine wine, there really was every reason to believe we'd be seeing more of the #FastFam for years to come.....

Then the worst happened, I remember I used to watch Paul Walker/Tyrese interviews and #FastFam spoofs late at night when I was having a bad day or feeling particularly down and they would always cheer me up these people are so good at being ridiculous and their chemistry is just ludicrous and amazing! (see what I did there). The skits and the familial bond just got better and better and behind the scenes we learned that Tyrese's Roman definitely got his big mouth from his portrayer always stirring ish in the most bizarre and amusing ways.

When Paul Walker died, all that positivity and great energy changed for me, that safe and happy place I would go to when things were crappy disappeared, All the hope I had in a franchise that represented me and so many other faces and races that were under-represented or misrepresented by action films and by films in general, seemed to die suddenly. The heart of the franchise was gone. But we still have to honour him, and we have to honour, respect and protect what he created and valued on-screen and off, because when you care about someone that's the best way to make their memory live on and the only way to honour their legacy.

I don't have a f*cking clue how to answer what to do when someone you care about is gone for good and I'm still trying to figure it out, 2013/2014 were not particularly good years for me as I lost a lot of people I cared about in what almost seemed like a fire sale.
All I can hope is that the answer to how to respond (when you lose someone you care about and admire like Paul Walker or Jack Layton) is somewhere in this  incredible speech  that Tyrese gave. Somehow something that Paul and Jack understood about the planet that other people didn't or don't maybe made God or the universe call them home.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. So here is your Fast and Furious reupped playlist much love (as always) and I wish the best of coming weeks to you. Please donate, support, (purchase cute shirts and caps) from ROWW (Reach Out Worldwide you can learn more about the charity here.  And (just started my sentence like I shouldn't) keep your calendar clear this Friday April 3rd for our date with Fast 7! One last ride y'all, let's make it sweet.

xo

Ouch....Pretty Hurts. The Beauty Myth

Well, I was going to do a playlist on something else entirely but I got hit with a case of the sads so here it is, your The Beauty Myth (aka love yourself or die trying) Playlist.  Sooo many things to say about this but I won't bore you with the details. All the women out there know that never-mind pimps, it's hard out there for a bitch (thank you Lily Allen).

There are soooo many things we're supposed to be and not be all at once.
Example: We're supposed to be pretty but not too pretty.
 We're not supposed to be dumb but we can't be too smart,
Wwe're supposed to be sexy but we can't be sluts,
We're supposed to be demure be we can't be a tease.
We're supposed to be independent but we can't be ambitious,
We're supposed to be capable but we can't be confident.
We're supposed to be wild but we shouldn't be free.
 It's a lot, we're a lot and sometimes when you take it all in (like you shouldn't) then you take a look in the mirror it makes you want to hurl. We've all lived in those moments, but they are (horrid as they are) moments, and now at least you have some music to shake your fine, smart, literate, brilliant ass out of it. Because god knows no one wants to be trapped in a mirror with a bitchy, pitchy, haterade-drinking, magazine trolling, celebrity comparing version of yourself.  Tell that bitch to eff off, put on these tunes and dance your way out of it. Seriously, (it helps if you clap too). Please feel freeeeeeee to comment below on what you like to watch, listen to, read or do when the mirror starts to taunt you. Share and share and share alike! Girl Power and all that.

Love, Lemons and Lots of Luck (no lemons I swear. I just like alliteration, I could say Love and Liquor but some people don't drink) Have a fabulous week kittens!


(Exceedingly long) Post Script:

Tips to break out of your me-eating mood:
This fabulous to-do list to break the bads

Notable reads: The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

Notable Films: Ever After (Starring Drew Barrymore)
GI Jane (Starring Demi Moore)
Akeelah and the Bee (Starring Keke Palmer)

If This Doesn't Work:
Watch Hairspray!! Then Watch Hairspray again!!! Marathon that ish until you want to marry yourself! NO EXCUSES I've even linked the movie for you. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???!!

East Coast Patty's meets overseas Cakes.

Okay that title made no sense. Whatever.
 It's time for another blog and playlist and this week features the loverly Celtic/East Coast influence because the music is beautiful even though y'all may be too drunk off your faces (this week) to listen to it.

I may well have become aware of this incredible music around the height of The Cranberries and Ashley MacIsaac's popularity, Natalie MacMaster was creeping in around that time too. Ah the bagpipes! Prominent in my life since an early age, born in a tiny Canadian/Scottish town which held a bagpipe parade every Saturday through the summer, hence stuff like that there just gets to me.
 I strongly recommend lending a Saturday to a Chieftains or Natalie MacMaster record and just knitting a sweater (I don't know how to do that) or painting a picture ( I don't know how to do that either) or baking some cookies (that I can do) or something, it's real 'heart of life' kind of music and it's sure to pick you up if and when you are feeling down.

Here in Canada the East Coast (Newfoundland, PEI, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) has a vibrant and exciting music scene which is rather entwined in their culture, their food and the overall experience. Check out The Starving Artist to read recipes and anecdotes from a straight-up Newfoundlander musician now residing in the big city and while you're testing out one of his many recipes (he gives very detailed instructions, not to worry) you can throw on my Celtic/East Coast playlist and have a few shots of wheatgrass to cure that epic hangover.


**Incidentally the song is called *Kilkelly (Ireland) not Kilkenny. Kilkenny is a beer,. (I don't even drink beer what is going on?!!??!!) Whatever the case, enjoy your week, I wish you many four leaf clovers and a leprechaun that doesn't want to kill you.

Happy St. Paddy's Day All!

Girl Power!!!!!!

Believe it or not I didn't plan this, but this week's awesome female dominated playlist is all girl power baby! Happy International Women's Day! Today we celebrate strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them! I did some girly things today like going to work, applauding other women's fashion sense and generally being impressed with the way we women hold it together. There has been soooo much girl power in music long before the Spice Girls came along, and I tried to include just a bit of it on this week's playlist. Now don't feel bad that I left anyone out, there was bound to be someone and I have all the jazz greats covered on my jazz and blues playlist and a lot more brilliant ladies on my 90's playlist.

Listen, we all know that women like Madonna, Janet Jackson and TLC were instrumental in the socio-political music scene in the 90's tackling issues like HIV and AIDS, homophobia and racism. These women never backed down from the truth, Ruth. By the time the Spice Girls came along the air was rife with the scent of mobilization and owning who you were, imperfectly perfect to a fault.

Nowadays we certainly have our issues and it seems quite often that we take one step forward and two steps back, right now in Canada we have a terrifying ongoing situation regarding the murder and abduction of Aboriginal Women in which our prime minister refuses to order an inquiry into.

In North America Black Women are still struggling to have their voices heard in society and on film and various media. We are at this time however finally able to say that we have 3 shows to claim as our own. They are the first 3 shows to feature African American Female Leads since 1974! We have writer, producer Shonda Rhimes to thank for 2 of those 3 changes, a true example of a Smart Girl if ever I saw one!

Hey speaking of Smart Girls, have you seen this? Amy Poehler has been brightening up my Facebook feed for many months with this wonderful website that shines the spotlight on brave, smart, passionate, capable, beautiful, strong, loving women. God bless her because it is Phenomenal.

Well Women, Hope your day was incredible or productive or profitable or romantic or clever or stupid-funny or musical or creative. Much respect to all the women out there doing the best they can and treating other women with as much dignity as they would love to feel and receive themselves.

xo
Enjoy the playlist and
Happy Women's Day! (you deserve it)

Score Me Too! No, seriously, score me....again

Yup! It's reading week, (well for college's anyway) and you need MUSIC. This is relaxing and fun and exciting and depressing what? Sit down, grab your books and your venti coffees  lattes and get to reading like you should. Of course if you're not in school I have selected some handy dandy reading titles for you, they are thusly....
For the introspective: Measure Of A Man Sidney Poitier
For the resident gigglers: The Princess Bride William Goldman (alternatively) Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams,
For the perpetual moper: Girl Interupted Susanna Kaysen,
For the history freaks: The Other Boleyn Girl (historical fiction but still quite fetching)
For the romantics: Something Borrowed (then go ahead and read Something Blue afterwards (which is told from the other friend's perspective and is even more enjoyable IMO) parenthesis within a parenthesis, good lord)
For those in turmoil: Why Me, Why This, Why Now Robin Norwood (or alternatively) The Secret Rhonda Byrne
For the Agnostics: Would You Believe Tom Harpur (or alternatively) Conversations With God Neale Donald Walsch
For the Entrepeneurs and Biography lovers: Losing My Virginity Richard Branson and/or Empire State of Mind Zack O'Malley Greenburg
And finally.......
For the Young Adult Lovers (like myself): Fall Into Darkness Christopher Pike (or alternatively) The Wakefield Legacy (Sweet Valley Saga) Francine Pascal.

So here is your Score Me Too Playlist happy reading week gals and guys and do enjoy the playlist, hope it takes you back to happier tv days (although television nowadays is getting pretty damn good). Cheers and beers wine, always wine (unless of course you don't drink then chai for you!)

P.S Do let me know (in the comments or by railing to the gods) how the Playlist  and suggested books (or your unavoidable studies) went down.

Okay, you've had your Oscar fun (#Jupita watch 2015) now it's time for the music behind the movies......

Score Me: TV and Movie Classics.

A seventeen year old me was super excited to visit Jamaica again with my family most particularly because I had just received the Legends of the Fall, Interview With The Vampire, Circle of Friends and Far and Away soundtracks and could listen to them on the plane and for the WHOLE trip. I was in movie score heaven.....HEAVEN!!! James Horner had already impressed me with the Thunderheart soundtrack so I immediately recognized his work in Legends of the Fall.

 Elliot Goldenthal (Interview With The Vampire) would go on to make incredible music for the Batman series (featuring Val Kilmer) and Heat (also featuring Val Kilmer) and win an Academy Award for his work in Frida (the biopic on Frida Kahlo starring Selma Hayek) and we all know the genius that is John Williams. If not, here's the short version: Jaws, Star Wars, Superman, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones etc etc etc. The dude is BOSS. Much like the other composers on this list. Shout outs to WG Snuffy Walden (My So-Called Life), Alan Silvestri (Polar Express)  and my fave Graeme Revell (The Crow) . There's soooo many amazing scores out there guys, but I tried to include the my very favourites. Hopefully it will spark some exciting memories for you and you'll be inspired to check out some more scores and look out for composers in the future! Here is your TV and Movie Classics Playlist do enjoy, or don't (I won't tell you what to do!)

P,S (a loooong post-script)  I cannot begin to express how much the movie and soundtrack to Legends of the Fall meant to me. With the direction and producing of Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz whom I remembered fondly from My So-Called Life and the exciting and (at the time) up and coming actor Brad Pitt, who was about to deliver a one-two punch with Interview With The Vampire. Joined with the veritable Anthony Hopkins, the phenomenal Aidan Quinn, everyone's favourite alien-loving child actor all grown up Henry Thomas, the incredible Canadian actress Tantoo Cardinal and the honourable Gordon Tootoosis and the introduction to Julia Ormond who was about to perform in a trifecta of movies where she was at the apex of a triangle. This movie was very special and the soundtrack only made it more so, I was obsessed, I drew it in my notebook, I played it on the piano and I read the novella (which is quite different BTW). What an extraordinary gift to listen to this soundtrack many years later and feel perfectly vindicated in making a fuss. Have a great week peeps, keep the faith that winter will end sooner rather than later and keep an eye on #Jupita!

BLOG FAAAAAAIL......aaand RECOVERY! The ANGERBALL BLOG!

Okey dokes!! Get your anger out kiddies and get it out noooooooooooooooow!!! I know, I know, I tried to do the upbeat thing with the February blahs and all but dumb people got to me. So here it is, your first unofficial Angerball Blog Playlist (Dancing About Architecture shoutout), it's called (of course) Confusion to Insanity Playlist because that's what people can drive us to sometimes (if we don't meditate and learn to ignore  them). So so so.....do enjoy, or don't if that's your thing. Whatever it is, please do have a good and angry happy rest of the week and I'll see you next this Sunday. (with a considerably lighter workload)

BTW...if  you haven't been watching Marvel's Agent Carter I STRONGLY recommend it. So much awesome in just one hour, similarly The Flash is cleaning up in the awesome department. Get your she-roe and hero on y'all.

Peace Out Kittens!

Jazz and Blues and Allllllll the News.....

Oh Hello Friends, Enemies, Kittens etc,


You guessed it, today's blog which is a mite late (I apologize) is all about  JAZZ hands JAZZ (and Blues and Doo-wop-y kinda stuff). I've kicked it off with the very talented (and Canadian) Oscar Peterson (RIP good sir), and continued onward down the path towards jazz and rhythm and blues enlightenment with The First Lady of Song, some Sarah Vaughan and the incredible Sammy Davis Jr, I moseyed on into Otis Redding territory but not before hitting up Harry Connick Jr (the first concert I ever attended). Oh guys it's so lovely, don't listen to Noel Gallagher about 'shite jazz' he doesn't know it but he's on about, which (to be honest) is 'Smooth Jazz' and 'College Smooth Jazz' which is not the same blessed thing.

It's February (I know, I know) and as such all the Valentines are getting their chocolate on but more importantly it's Black History Month and when could be a better time to learn some American History through the magnificent world of Jazz? (that was rhetorical) So please do dive in and enjoy the splendor and magnificence and if you feel the inexplicable urge to check out a local jazz show in your area this week by all means darlings, GIVE IN!

Anyway, I wish you (and myself) a mighty fine grind this week to accomplish all the things you need to get 'er done and do consider playing this lovely, melodic dreamscapey Jazz and RnB playlist if you get a little too stressed out. I'll also leave you with this bluesy version of Summertime that my friend Jorge Gavidia and I recorded and a reminder that Summer will return someday (sooner than you think).  Until then? Hang onto that pigfoot and bottle o' beer, scooobley-doobl-ey-doobl-ey out!

*always hear when you cry sigh dagnammit! Probably a Freudian slip*

*I would be remiss not to include a song from the movie that started my Vaudevillian obsession here's a cover for Burlesque fans <3

The Britpop!!! AKA UK Invasion AKA People Over There....

FEBRUARY'S HERE (yeah I'm not happy about it either)


Waaaaay better mood today though because my lazy ass finally hit the gym! Eff yeah! Endorphins. Yesterday I was wilin' out like a crazy person. Y'all I'm sorry to say this but it's February now, historically the most depressing damn month of the year so if you find yourself crying for no damn reason or over-reacting or being a real freakshow, take heart. You're not alone, We're all miserable as f*ck right along with you. I'm gonna try to keep the playlists this month very upbeat for that very reason. Let's see if we can put some pep in your step (see what I did there?) I have included some slower, vibey songs but they're sandwiched between clangers and bouncy, block-rockin' beats, so you're good.


ACROSS THE POND PLAYLIST

Yup, this is some good sh*t right here. If you wanna know what I was doing in the 90s? Probably vegging out listening to this stuff, dancing like a nutter listening to this stuff or walking really aggressively listening to this stuff imagining sh*t was blowing up behind me. Yup, the Brit Awards had just hit my radar and they had that one amazing year where, Skunk Anansie, peformed Hedonism (Just because it feels good) and Diana Ross and Jamiroquai did a duet and I fell in love with music from across the pond. Some goodly gear there, goodly gear. Plus I was getting sick of the grunge so there's that, I can't rain all the time (even though I'm only happy when it does ;) I do of course owe my introduction to Britpop, UK music to Spice Girls and Oasis. My two favourite bands of all anything really and if it weren't for Noel Gallagher I wouldn't be bothered with half this ish (including learning the guitar or making music at all). That man made Britpop music palatable for me and his blatant brashness and honesty has always been more than welcome in an industry full of liars, cheats and backstabbers. You always know where you stand with Noel Gallagher and there's precious little of that left in the world. I really could talk about Noel and Oasis for a whole blog (which I think I shall) so I'll just leave that for the future then.

Another really amazing album that I've included some tracks off is The Saint Soundtrack. The film was the business and the soundtrack was even better. Val Kilmer, Elizabeth Shue and a crapload of crazy disguises. Check it! Shout out to Kilmer, (sending nothing but good vibes his way right now) who made some of the most fun,clever movies of my childhood life. (Real Genius, Willow, Top Gun) Just as an aside I did happen to hit up the bar they filmed Top Gun in when I was in San Diego, great balls of fire y'all! (pretty sure I say y'all more than any other Canadian,ever (must have been that Louisiana stint) wow).

So here's your Britpop AKA UK Invasion AKA People Over There playlist with some damn good music to get it poppin' to (don't even know what that means) ...oh maybe bottles, yes pop some bottles. No, don't pop bottles just chill, have a coffee, do your homework, read a book, jump around, whatever. Have fun, and folks...Have a Nice Day!

Beverly Hills 90210. Yes.

Need I say more? Ah but I will, back in the day I would turn on my television and watch the escapades of the rich and over-privileged (excepting the Walsh Twins and Ahhndrea) and boy was it entertaining. You know I'm pretty sure FOX Network started that whole 'scenes from the next thing' and if they didn't start it they sure were the first to make an event out of it and make an event out of television.

The way they got us hooked was to run a full first season of 90210 then when everyone else's show was on hiatus they carried on through the summer with special "Beach Episodes" by the time they came back for fall (after a short break) we were addicts, bona fide, tried and true 90210 junkies. We needed to know if Brenda and Dylan would ever reconcile, if Kelly's mom would stay off the drugs, if Brandon and Ahhndrea would ever get it on, if Steve's mother would ever love him, if Donna would ever have sex, if David would ever stop being such a loser (or being treated like such a loser)....WE HAD TO KNOW!!!  My sister was kind and clever enough to buy me the first season on DVD and I marathoned it like Terry Fox. I welcome you to take a dip in the original Beverly Hills 90210 pool. The water's fine, folks.

You know last week was all about the 80's and I snuck a little Shannen Doherty in there for ya with Heathers ( I hope you watched it) but when Shannen really hit it big was with this wonderful show. If you've never seen an episode of the original 90210 then you probably weren't born yet, or perhaps not on the continent of North America but have no fear, it is all perfectly wonderful because now you have a chance to discover it.

Me, personally I only made it to the end of season 4, when Shannen peaced out I did too and I am mighty glad for it. I found the show went from a top quality show about adolescence to a Dallas/Dynasty-esque bitchfest, not that there's anything wrong with that but I liked having Brenda Walsh as the moral, dramatic centre and without her to guide it I felt like the show lost its heart. So there you are. Seasons 1 through 4, it's fun, topical (well it was at the time and still may be) and thoroughly enjoyable and if you ship Brenda/Dylan like me then it's very tragically romantic (I learned the majority of Ophelia's monologue from the summer episodes)

Beverly Hills 90210 was also the first serial of their time (aside from 21 Jumpstreet) to be a drama targeted entirely to teenagers. At that time networks didn't think they could make any money out of teenagers (crazy right) and it was only during the 90's that the big marketing boom towards teenagerdom (tv, magazines, books) really took off. Somebody uttered the words "disposable income" and it was off to the races. So I've made you a Beverly Hills 90210 playlist  of course (heads up unless you have a deezer account this playlist is only viewable on your laptop). It's a blast I tell you, and due to The Peach Pit scenes (Ah Nat!) there's a lot of good 50's and 60's music too. Do enjoy kittens and have a wonderful week!

Hip-Hop. The Game, The Network, The (Hopeful) Evolution?

Hip-Hop. Loved by many, understood by few. It's a huge topic to tackle (which is why I'm only semi-tackling it). We all have our favourite rappers and emcees and we all have our favourite albums and stand alone tracks but nowadays many of us are left wondering ....what the hell happened? More and more we find ourselves heading back to the vault of the eighties and nineties and early 2000s to get our fix of meaningful lyrics encased in beats that stick in our minds like macaroni and cheese to a stove pot.

 There's no way to pinpoint just where it all went wrong with hip-hop music, although it's probably around the same time it went wrong with every other kind of music, when the hippies and music lovers were shoved out of the record labels to make room for the yuppies and suits. Around the time when show business became more business than show and when making a dollar became more important than making a good record. Hip-hop transitioning (for better or worse) from making feel good music (Run DMC) and relevant music (Public Enemy) to pure product placements and bravado.

One way or another the game changed and current hip-hop artists must now struggle against the backlash of who is perceived as hip-hop (aside: blasphemy and parodying my favourite movie too, brain bleach please) and who is actually hip-hop. Wouldn't it be great with all this technology to have an app or a site that could help us differentiate? To be able to once again see true talent for what it is without the hype machine or the media barking in our ears about what is supposedly good and who the supposed new hip-hop kings or queens are? Wouldn't it be great to be able to make up our own minds about it?

In a word? Yes and this is what lead me to the idea for DroptheMic An website/app that gives emcees, djs and beatmakers the opportunity to network, build a following by showcasing what they can do to people who have a genuine interest and appreciation for their craft. Hip-hop didn't start out being all about swag, jewels and cars.It started out as a form of expression, craftsmanship and a way to release energy. As Common puts it "The joy and beauty of being a hip-hop artist, you can truly express who you are. When you're a rapper you get to say what you think, what you feel, people hear your perspective, people hear your spirit,  your soul (if you're using that) and they hear your imagination to be able to write a rhyme and say look, this is what my life has been about."

It's time we get back to the what was awesome, fun and exciting about Hip-Hop. That which ignited our souls and hearts and made us walk with a little more swagger and break like our lives depended on it. With that in mind, here's an old school hip-hop playlist for inspiration, so hip-hop hippity-hop  and don't stop...........

P.S Do yourself a favour and check out  The Art of Rap it's an absolutely fantastic (and informative) way to spend an hour and a half of your weekend. Peace Out Kittens!


"Find yourself, find your art, Find your heart." Snoop Dogg

IT'S THE EIGHTIES!!!! Shut up....it is...

Well at least here and now in this moment and on this mofo blog. Yup I got ya some eighties tracks here...bitchin'! I'm gonna recommend some stellar eighties movies for ya too! It's like Christmas again (or some other non-denominational holiday where you get cool stuff).

So, here's your playlist  and here are your recommended 80's movies, watch the movies then listen to the playlist 'cause I snuck some songs off the movies for ya:

1. Real Genius this f'awesome 80's movie features a young, eccentric Val Kilmer at a school for gifted minds...wackiness ensues (of course). Jammin'

2.  The Monster Squad  a bunch of kids battling Dracula, his brides (yeah I typed plural), a werewolf and some other untoward ish. Awww poor Phoebe *emoticon of a teardrop* This movie is AMAZING.

3. A Nightmare on Elm Street (the original) few movies at the time were scarier and more inventive than this one. It's still one of the creepiest ideas I can think of. We've all got to sleep sometime, maybe watch this one in the daylight hours. (and yes, okay fine for a young Johnny Depp) aside: look out for some parallels between this movie and Scream, (same director) the physical similarities between Billy Loomis and Glen Lantz are also worth noting.

4. Heathers before Mean Girls there was Heathers and never a more accurate or frightening description of the bitchiest girls in school and with a stellar cast including Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty. Excellent (you'll have to hunt for this one as I couldn't find a link)

5. Gleaming the Cube Later (I mean a decade later) renamed "A Brother's Justice" for no discernible reason. Anyway it's a skateboarding movie starring Christian Slater and yes, it's awesome. There's a chance to see some action by Tony Hawk as well. (you can try and find a better quality vid out there, hit me up if you do)

And that concludes our happy (partly) foray into the 80's. Gotta book! L8ergram kittens!

Bourne Fast and Furious and....Drinking the Vino...

Hello Kittens,


Oh life, how tough, how tricky, how goddamn bitchy....but! BUT! But, we can combat that (partially) with an inordinate amount of music, happy, exciting, energetic, powerful, peppy music. And folks (I know starting a sentence with a conjuction is incredibly wrong) (as was that incredibly long parenthesis and this one that follows it) that's what I'm here for. So here it is...your action movie music soundtrack. Have at it folks and enjoy, remember Fast 7  is due this year April 3rd to be exact and Avengers 2 to follow on May 1st (day before my birthday #justsayin). So drink your wine or your tea, hit that gym or that meditation centre and as Eve would say Grind or Die 'cuz you got this.

L8gram,

P.S If all else fails there's libraries. They have comics y'all.....COMICS!!!

Music,Playlists et autre choses....

Ah Music! What could be more magical, motivational or downright maniacal? In the spirit of magic however I have created a mellow and melodic playlist for the likes of this dismal (where I'm located at least) day. Take a bubble bath, (I recommend LUSH Phoenix Rising) oh how I miss having a bathtub.... I digress. Read an entertaining sci-fi book, perhaps something emo and young adult (Hunger Games was supposed to be for teenagers) and relaaaax.

Chillaxing playlist  The song of the day is Holding out for a Hero by Ella Mae Bowen (and in this week's playlist). It's a lovely cover from the remake of Footloose that came out in 2011. Great remake, I highly recommend it and the soundtrack is equally peppy. It's Sunday kittens! Rest up!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!