Music Rant

So today I was talking with a guy in my literary theory class about the underground hip-hop scene in Colorado. Not sure even how it came about, but I had recently noticed that some of the groups and artists that I follow go through there ALOT. Well I say that there is a decent scene there and this dude, who established a couple years ago in another class that he was into metal, decides that he suddenly knows something about the underground scene here and in Colorado. He starts going on about how there is a scene there but the scene here in the Dallas area is way bigger. I counter that I was in the scene due to my ex (thank you soooooooo much Chris for that) and the scene is almost nonexistent. His counter "oh no, the scene here is bigger, what do you call that 'dance party' show that is broadcast in several states?" I looked at him with a look that was a mix of contempt and disbelief.... "You mean the show where they play only songs that are played on the radio? That ain't underground dude, that's mainstream bullshit," I said. He ignored my response and kept on about how he lived in Colorado and there is this scene and that scene, but not a hip-hop scene. I told him then how do explain Lyrics Born being their for 3 different shows this month alone, or Sage Francis being there about once a year when he hasn't been to Dallas (which according to him is one of the hubs, the other is Houston, of the "underground" scene)? His only retort then was that he lived there and KNEW. Yeah, sure dude, you know about something that you have absolutely NO experience in. Sure, you know, sure.

Well, I at least know better. Too bad though I don't live near Providence, RI... I know I missed an awesome freakin show tonight. Many may not know this about me, but I love goin to shows. I promised B though I'd lay off the mosh pits. I do need to get to a good metal/rock show too, but I've been to a rock show since the last time I've been to a hip-hop show and it's a totally different vibe.

Anywho! So I come home and I'm sitting here doing homework. I take a study break and add a couple artist I hadn't previously, like Buck 65, and the new group I was told about Saturday, Doomtree, who I just found out has this guy Cecil Otter in it who's on Strange Famous Records as a solo artist... So I get this add, which I get bands adding me from time to time since about 2/3 of my friends are bands. I do give each band add a chance, but I only listen to 2 tracks and I listen only about 1-2 minutes in. Well, I click on the profile and I'm greeted to what sounds like a crappy MIDI file. The guy's bio says "If you listen to the radio, you've heard my style." First of all, on the rare occasion I do listen to the radio, I know for a fact, I haven't heard your style, well not since the first music files were on computers. Secondly, you sound like shit! Yeah... I've heard MIDI files sound better. So, I denied him. But not just cuz it sounded bad, but cuz he referenced the radio like he did. That's not to say the radio is bad, however, the commercialization of music has made much of it lose something. I'm so glad that Radiohead doesn't get the radio play that some think they deserve. I'll agree, everyone should listen to Radiohead, but with that type of hype, certain things are expected of you and they are not good. I like Radiohead, and all the others I listen to, just the way they are.

And by popular request, here is a quick list of some of the artist that are on my iPod. Check them out and if you have a suggestion for something new I might like, please leave me a comment!

Sage Francis

Soundgarden

Alice in Chains

Doomtree

Lyrics Born

Type O Negative

Horrorpops

Atmosphere

Aceyalone

Murs

Aesop Rock

Static X

System of a Down

Buck 65

Tool

Johnny Cash

Nine Inch Nails

Anjulie

Audioslave

Bad Acid Trip

Gorillaz

Beyonce (*snicker*)

Bjork

Tricky

PJ Harvey

Massive Attack

Portishead

Blackalicious

Bloodhound Gang

Qwel

Blue October

Bush

Busdriver

Saul Williams

Non-prophets

Cake

Collective Soul

The Cure

The Cult

Guns N Roses

Stone Roses

Flobots

Gift of Gab

Incubus

Korn

Marilyn Manson

Lacuna Coil

Live

Machine Head

Subtle

Doseone

Pantera

Pharcyde

Pink

Prodigy

Radiohead

The Roots

Seven Dust

Slipknot

Anticon

Sneakerpimps

Soul Coughing

Eels

Spacehog

Tears for Fears

Toad the Wet Sprocket

Tori Amos

Ani DiFranco

A Tribe Called Quest

Typical Cats

Visionaries

Living Legends

2Mex

Awol One

311

All American Rejects

B. Dolan

Dead Milkmen

Lords of Acid

This is not everything, but a lot of it. Check it out, make some recommendations. I like all kinds, even weird stuff like Ween (those guys are hilarious!).

A Small Rant Continued

So many of you saw the response I got for my blog titled "A Small Rant." Well homegirl emailed me this morning, after posting an insane amount of comments on my link to this blog and then posting 31+ status updates, which I later noticed were exactly what she posted on my link comments. I'm not going to include what she said, cuz it pretty much was a continuation of all that she posted last night. I emailed her back and the following is my response back:

I did look at your posts. I'm no where near ashamed of my faith, I'm a warrior for Christ. My job is to go out and kick evils butt, not preach. God gives us each gifts and expects us to use them. My being a warrior gives me a unique oppertunity to reach people without shoving my faith down their throats. What you have posted has possibly turned more people away from Christ than brought to him. Then who is worse, the one scaring off more than they bring to God or the one who allows God to bring people across their path to reach out to?

Don't get me wrong, we are to bring people to Christ, I'm aware of the great commision, but we do so within our gifts.

This is the last I'm saying on the issue as I have more important things to do than debate religion with you on the Internet. Don't take that the wrong way, I just don't see the point of this other than you wanting to be right. You are mistaken on many points in your posts, but I won't go into that as I don't have time. I've got work and school.

Tale care

Christina

A Small Rant

I want to preface this blog with the fact that I am, by the definition of the term, a Christian. I, however, am not a "Bible thumper" or one to push my beliefs done other people's throats. I may on occasion speak of spiritual things, but I do my best to keep the religious aspect out of what I'm saying as what I'm trying to say could be applied to almost any religion.

That being said, I am sick and tired of all the posts I have to see on Facebook and on Twitter about how "God is good" and "save your soul" stuff. I am sure that many of these are people's way of comforting themselves, but there are better ways to do this than quoting lengthy Bible verses and preaching at your friends. God wants us to reach out to those around us, but I don't think He wants us to shove Him down everyone's throats 24 hours a day! I think that Bible verses should be saved for those who call into question beliefs and principles of our faith. We should save them for personal conversations where we are addressing a particular individual's circumstances. God provides for us what to say in those situations. If you read a post of mine that seems some what spiritual, it's because I can sense that someone needs to hear such things, but I'm not going to proselytise to everyone on my friends/followers lists.

I love that I have so many friends and followers online, but I would never make them feel uncomfortable on purpose. I know that I do go on my ghost/spirit activity but, like I said, I try to be as general as possible since that spiritual activity happens no matter what your religious beliefs are, most religions believe in spirits/ghosts.

So that's my rant. Hope I didn't offend anyone.

Common Courtesy on the Roads and at Gas Stations

Have you seen the episode of Family Guy where Peter does the "Grind My Gears" piece on the news? Well, that's kind of what this blog is. In the last 48 hours I've been so frustrated with people and their lack of common courtesy and tact on the roads that I've decided it requires a blog.

First let me address common courtesy at gas stations. If you go to a gas station with two pumps on each side of the aisle, like many larger gas stations, please pull completely forward to the further of the two pumps on the aisle so someone can pull up to the pump behind you. This way there is no wait for gas and you are not forcing some schmuck (such as myself) to circle the gas pumps until they run out of gas because everyone decided to pull up to the center of the two pumps and make it impossible for anyone else to get gas!

Also, make sure that when you are pulling into an aisle at the gas station to look and make sure you are not competing for the same pump. If you pull into that aisle first the second person should be courteous of you and vice verse. Treat it like a four way stop (there the person on the left of you, if they stopped first, goes first). This makes traffic at the gas station move more freely.

On to my second rant... When driving on a busy street, do not move from the center lane to the left hand lane and try and squeeze into the left turn lane when it FINALLY gets an arrow. First of all this is ridiculously stupid. You know if you need to make a left hand turn, so get in the turn lane no matter how long that line is. If you miss the turn lane on accident, find a place to make a U-turn so you don't hold up traffic. And if you decide not to move from your spot like some kind of moronic dog not letting go of a pants leg, don't roll your eyes at the person behind you laying on their horn because they have the right to do that you moron! You're holding up traffic and could cause an accident.

Every time I've seen this happen, it's because A) I'm too nice and let people over into my lane and B) they're inexperienced teenage drivers who probably shouldn't have a license to begin with. So, that said, maybe there is something to waiting until kids are 18 before they can get a full licenses.

OK, I'm sure this convoluted and slightly rambling, but you try writing while at work and your boss keeps walking in on you, ha!