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Favorite 2011 Albums

December 26, 2011 in Entertainment, Just for Fun, Music, Random Musings, Rants with 0 Comments

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

I love Year End “Best of” lists. I look forward to lists from various publications about the best new recipes, television shows, books, movies and my favorite best albums of the year, which I use to discover new music and to get upset when some of my favorite bands don’t get a high enough score in certain lists or are completely left out. Usually, I get really upset at Pitchfork for leaving someone out or putting one band higher than another, but then again Pitchfork is a very frustrating online music magazine—I love and hate them.

So there really isn’t an order to the list. I just added them as I searched through my iTunes library to see what was released this year, so the number 1 spot is not really the number 1 album per se to me, it just happens to be the one I happened to list first. By the way, this is much harder than I thought it would be. I am always afraid of leaving something out or what to say in describing the albums. I eliminated getting heat for ranking an album higher than another by putting the disclaimer of it being ranked in no particular order. I know its a cop-out, but this is my blog and you will deal with it! I could have listed them in a bulleted list, but I started with numbered lists and I was too far ahead in making the list to change it.

  1. Wilco- The Whole Love: Okay, so I lied. I have to list this as the number one album on the list because they are my all time favorite band. I was anxiously awaiting this album, and it did not disappoint. To me the very first track of a Wilco album has really set the mood for the entire catalog of songs, and “Art of Almost” is this wonderful medley of noise, pops and wizzes which ends in a head-bopping Nels Cline shred.
  2. Fleet Foxes- Helplessness Blues: This was my second most anticipated album of the year. I loved the first Fleet Foxes album for its rich harmonies, beautiful melodies and deep lyrics and their sophomore album did not disappoint. To be quite honest, this is the true album of the year and the last track on the album, “Grown Ocean”, became a favorite of mine. I love that song so much that I have it as my opening track in a playlist entitled “To Get Yourself Pumped Up”.
  3. The Decemberists- The King is Dead: This is probably one of the most underrated albums of 2011 in my opinion. Usually a The Decemberists album is created around a theme, concept or story, but this one is not. Its a more Americana version of  The Decemberists, that still retains their unique Decembersists sound. Its a solid album, and it perplexes me as to why it is not in a lot more Best of 2011 lists.
  4. Destroyer- Kaput: I discovered Destroyer when I was listening to my favorite podcast The Dinner Party Download. I decided to check them out and I loved the album so much. Its not an album I would expect to love, but its fantastic. Next time a band tries to emulate 80s soft-rock, sign me up to be a fan!
  5. Bon Iver- Bon Iver: This is the year that I learned how to pronounce Bon Iver correctly after being a fan for a while. By the way, in case you’re interested its not pronounced Bon Eyever but pronounced Boni Ver. A friend once told me that he always pronounced Bon Iver by imagining himself walking in a freshly snow covered forest in Norway. Sounds about right.
  6. Cults- Cults: This is such a catchy little band. Someone I follow on Tumblr posted “Going to see them tonight” and a link to their song “Go Outside”. Instant falling in love, guys. I fell for them hard.
  7. Real Estate- Days: I also randomly heard of them thanks to a random post on Tumblr. I “loved” the track and reblogged it and as the original poster blogged more and more of their tracks I went out and bought this album and their previous album. It was a very wise decision.
  8. Jay-Z & Kanye West- Watch the Throne: Was this the most anticipated album of the year or what? It did not disappoint at all. I had it on repeat several times since it came out.
  9. Childish Gambino- CAMP: While Watch the Throne was all about excess and how their huge megastardom has affected both Yeezy’s and Jay’s lives, CAMP is the complete opposite. Here Donald Glover does not talk about how fame has changed him, but in how he has struggled to not ever belonging into any worlds and how that has affected him. He just wants to be Donald.
  10. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks- Mirror Traffic: I really liked how Beck put a stop sing on some of Stephen Malkmus jams. Not to say that I did not like his jams, but sometimes they felt a bit too long or that they did not fit in a song. It still sounds like a Malkmus release, but its more polished. Thanks Beck!

Others albums I enjoyed this year were:

  • Mariachi El Bronx- Mariachi El Bronx II- Punk + mariachi music? How can you not love this. In the words of my mother “This is disgusting and vile”, but its so damn good.
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.- It’s A Corporate World: really fun album, even funner name.
  • Of Monsters and Men- My Head is an Animal: I heard them on NPR and found out they’re from Iceland. Also, this is as good as time as any to say that I cannot stand Sigur Ros, but this band gets a pass because I can understand them.
  • Feist-Metals: Just put on this album and enjoy the melancholy.

So there you go! My favorite albums of 2011. If you have Spotify there is this wonderful playlist that has all the best of 2011 albums in one convenient location. Its four days of wonderful music and its from your wonderful friends from Reddit! If you have Spotify just click on this link right here to open the list.

Trying to lose the love handles

September 14, 2011 in Food, Personal, Random Musings, Rants with 0 Comments

My weight

I’m 5′ 8″ and weight nearly 220 lbs. I have a BMI of 33, which makes me obese. Ideally my body weight should be between 150 and 165 according to most BMI calculators and charts, but I am gunning to be a more healthy 180 lbs to start with. I remember the last time I was 180 and that was back in 2009 when I was pretty much very motivated in getting things done school wise, but this is when I developed a sedentary life style and being out all the time at either school, work or with friends and it lead to really unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits. Fear not, I do not have that many commitments anymore besides being at work nearly everyday with plenty of time to actually go to a gym and to shed all this fat that I have on my body. I know, it won’t be easy and at times I will just want to quit, but I am sure that this public confession and admission in my unhealthy lifestyle will be a catalyst to get me started to a healthier Carlos.

I already started to wean myself into being active and healthy by changing my eating habits and counting my calories and researching which supplements to take in order to feel better and look better. I already eliminated soda from my diet and drink only water, orange juice and an occasional iced tea. I haven’t eliminated alcohol out of my life because that would just be crazy, but I am limiting myself on what it is that I drink and how much I drink 1.

I joined the local branch of Anytime Fitness and so far I like it. The facility is close to my apartment and I get to go whenever I want, which usually means that there are not a lot of people there hogging up the machines and I get to do what I want when I want it, plus they have rowing machines and even though they destroy my mind, body and soul I think that they are incredibly fun and give you an excellent workout; the same can be said of an elliptical machine, the bikes and the Arctrainer, which kicks my ass as well.

Acrtrainer

This is something that I have to stick with. Its imperative that I stick with going to the gym and working out. Why? Because I feel pretty disgusted with my self and how far I have let my body go to waste. At one point in my life I was at the 165 lbs pound range (sometime in 2005, I believe) and I did nothing to actually to tone myself up despite working with the merchandise pickup department and being fairly active. I have lots of clothes–good clothes–that I can no longer wear because I’m so huge. I wear XL jackets now instead of mediums and wear a size 38 waist, 17 1/2 neck and God know what else. I remember when I was tinier and was able to wear a size 34 and every medium jacket fit me perfectly (and I could actually button it!), and the plethora of dresshirts I could pick out because of my ideal neck size. Now I’m just fat, big and disgusting.

Okay, maybe not disgusting, but its not healthy specially when my family has hit the genetics lottery of awful diseases: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease. If I keep doing what it is that I am doing then I am not going to be around long and won’t get to do the things that I want to do in life. More than anything I just want to look at photos of myself and not be disgusted with my big belly.

So yes. New healthy eating habits. Going to the gym everyday and getting rid of the junk in my life.

Sounds like a plan.

Notes:

  1. To be honest, I’ve done this for quite a while. I usually nurse my drinks and start pretty consistent with the types of alcohol that I happen to drink, even though I’ve never quite listened to the rule of “liquor before beer” since I find that to be pretty dumb. ↩

He said his name was not important

August 18, 2011 in Personal, Random Musings, Rants with 0 Comments

For a few days I have been searching for this blog post from July 2004 where I skipped out of work and went to Barnes and Noble to browse books and drink caramel frapps. At the time I was 19 and hated my job working as a bilingual phone interviewer and would often call in sick and go to B&N and spend money that I didn’t really have in books that I really did not need and always end up regretting that decision that minute that I would hangup the phone calling out. This particular time I did end up regretting calling out because I knew the normal routine: I would just wander around B&N drinking that caramel frapp and spend about $50 on books I was never going to read but would look good on my bookshelf. Long story short, this time something actually productive came out of playing hookie which I am re-posting as is without any edits.

I didn’t go to work today. I felt I didn’t need to, something was calling me to go to Barnes and Noble and get lost in the books and people. That and the fact that I needed to pick up my girlfriends gift for our anniversary tomorrow. At first, I felt guilty for ditching work, but soon that guilt would wash away.

I drove in the rain the Barnes and Noble, parked in the same spot as usual and took in my hand my brown messenger in hand and walked in the store. I proceeded to the check out counter where I picked up my parsal, and purchased it. I decided to check out some of the usual things I would have checked out in any other visit to my hang out. I browsed through the computer section, and through the “New in Paperback” section, and finally to the “Current Events” section. I leafed through some books, and chose several that interested me and proceeded to one of the comfortable chairs in the aisles. As I proceeded to sit down, I noticed some books on the chair and asked the gentleman across the way if anyone was occupying the chair. He kindly smiled and told me that it was an open chair and that I was very lucky to have come across it. He was right, I was indeed lucky. I sat my books down and proceeded to enjoy reading my books. He was sitting reading a Yankees stat book, and he was sitting to the right of a black backpack and he sported bifolcals. He looked up at me and told me that I had a lot of reading to do. I usually am not accustomed in someone aproaching me in such a manner as he did, but it was a nice gesture. What happened next, I will never forget in my entire life. We struck up a converstation, in which we talked philosophy and people, and my future. He told me about this life, and how even at 83 years of age he was at a constant search for truth and understanding. We discussed how, even though we at times we feel so knowleadgeable and astute, we can be so naive and as he put it “dumb” in certain areas. We talked about our families, and how we are shaped by our society and culture. He said that, I was an interesting young man with many different ideas for the world and that I should do something with my ideas. That I needed to help people, and to make them realize that it was not I who was going to change them and make them happy, but that they must do it themselves and that they always need someone there to tell them that they can do it. He said, that I am exactly that type of person. We chatted some more, about my family mainly and how we all have interesting. It was when I talked about my father and how he was one of the most important people in my world, that he got up and kindly apologized that he must leave. He shook my hand, and told me that I was destined to be someone great, a great man and an amazing leader. I just kept shaking his hand, and told him that it was a great pleasure meeting him, and I asked him his name. He looked into my eyes, and told me that his name was not important, but only his memory and our conversation. He said he didn’t have to worry about me, and that I was going to be alright.

He left, and I sat there dumdfounded. I sat there, and thought about everything that we talked about. I sat there and thought about how he said he envied me for knowing what I know at such a young age.

Needless to say, I was shocked and in awe.

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane.

 

The Seldom Used PS3

March 6, 2011 in Just for Fun, Random Musings, Rants with 0 Comments

For my 24th birthday I bought myself a PS3 along with MLB 09: The Show. I traded in my Nintendo Wii, four Wiimotes, two nunchucks and several games for a 160 GB HD Ps3 that came with the original Uncharted and the aforementioned MLB game(the one with Dustin Pedroia on the cover). I was pretty excited, specially to play a baseball sim. Well, for a few weeks all I did was play my PS3 and nothing else. Then, I suddenly lost interest in it and it sat there un-played with for months until Dragon Age came out and that took my attention for several weeks, then again I lost interest fairly quickly until Final Fantasy XIII, and the same thing happened after several weeks of playing.

Its not the PS3′s fault. Its my parents.

Yes. You see, most gamers that I know started when they in elementary school. When I was in elementary school my mom was trying to figure out how to take care of my brother and I as a single mother with help from my grandmother. So money wasn’t disposable enough to get many luxuries, much less some sort of video game system. That’s not to say that I didn’t have any interaction with video games. In Mexico many neighborhoods have their very own tiendita, which is just a very, very small convenience store inside a person’s home. Its not a grocery store replacement, but if you say want to purchase a couple of eggs and don’t want to wait for the bus or convi (taxi vans) you run to la esquina (they are usually located in the intersections, or by the intersections of streets) and pick up what you need and run home.

So what do these corner stores have to do with video games? Simple: arcade machines. The one that was closest to us had two arcade machines: Street Fighter 2 and Sunset Riders. I became obsessed with both of them and spent whatever allowance I was given (very rarely) on going to the corner store and playing the machines or watching other people play machines. For a while I was really, really good at Street Fighter 2, but only if I played as Ken or Guile, any other character and I always lost when it came to fight M. Bison or Sagat. Yes, I even lost using Ryu.

Ken defeating Ryu, that punk.

When we moved to the states I didn’t play arcade games that often, and only had the chance whenever I went to Aladdin’s Castle in the mall (yeah, just went old school for my Pinellas peeps), Celebration Station or whenever we had a school field trip to Astro Skate. The very first system we had was a Game Boy, because my brother wanted to play Pokemon. I still remember that Game Boy: it was a teal color and he got Pokemon Red. At least I think it was Pokemon Red. Jesus was the reason why we even had video games. Since my parents at the time were avid Flea Market goers, we often stopped at the places that sold video games and purchased games there for the Game Boy and that eventually led to us getting a SNES with A Link to the Past. Since the SNES was with Jesus, he constantly was on it and went farther and farther with it and I merely stood in the background and just watched and “helped” him along. Rarely did I get to play.

Remember how you were able to rent entire systems from Blockbuster and Hollywood Video? For good grades my parents rented a system for us whenever report cards came out. We usually went with the Dreamcast and played Dear or Alive 2 or Tony Hawk Pro Skater. As time went one we amassed a series of video game systems thanks to our frequent outings to the flea market and my parents buying it for us: we had, and I believe we still do, an SNES, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, N64, Playstation, two different PS2s (one of them broke and we purchased another one), and several versions of Game Boys. Like usual, Jesus was the one that got them and played with them most often, even though the systems were for “both” of us —except for his original Game Boy, that was just for him.

Like I mentioned before, I just mainly stood in the back and watched Jesus play video games. Our big brother-little brother roles were reversed here, since I am sure most older siblings let their younger ones be the ones that watched them play video games instead of playing them.

What about computer games, you say? Well, I was for the longest time into Warcraft II and Starcraft. I used to play on Battle.Net with friends from middle school and with other people around the world. When I got into high school, we managed to get Unreal Tournament II installed into our computers in the desktop publishing class I took with several friends and that mainly consumed us during that period for two years.

Yet even though I some how made up the time I lost in getting myself into video games, I have never really been into them. I buy them and play with them for a while, but then I become really bored with them and never finish them. Don’t get me wrong, they are some really great games out there that I have purchased with the intention to finish them, but somehow video games as a whole don’t really impress me that much. I really don’t feel the urge to go out and drop $60 dollars for the latest shooter or sport sim. I’d rather use that money with something more productive: purchasing books that I probably never will read.

I’ve never really seen video games as an escape in the first place. I seem them more like an aggravating task that is really expensive. I don’t know about you, but I get really frustrated with games easily and then I hit a plateau and just abandon it. It happens a lot whenever I play sports sims, but never when I play a sim like Civilization or any other Sid Meir game.

So what is it that I use my PS3 for? Watching Blue-Rays and Netflix.

Yup. I still think I made a wise investment.

 

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