All the small things

You know that one song that however many times you hear it, you still like it? I resurrected Blink-182's "All The Small Things" at the beginning of this summer when I was reminiscing on late 90s/early2000s alt rock. It screams teenage summer to me: doing whatever I feel like, wearing whatever is comfortable, just having fun, whatever fun is to you. So many people take their music SO SERIOUSLY but what fun is there in that? People can be so condescending about contrasting music in iTunes* but they don't even know how much fun it can be! The best mixes have the most diversity in them- some old stuff, some popular stuff, indie, classic.There's this one scene in Paranoid Park where Alex is driving in his car and he's listening to rap and everyone thinks "tyypical" and then it cuts and he's listening to classical, and in the next cut he's jammin' out to punk rock. It's  so perfect.

*"You can't have Sigur Ros and Fall Out Boy in the same iPod! You must not be a true Sigur Ros fan! You just don't have the right!"

[whenever I hear this song it will bring back this summer]

I also wanted to bring to everyone's attention the online stylings of I Love Fake magazine. Their tag-line on the site caught me immediately: "Celebrating the Spirit of Youth" and while looking at the rest of the site, I decided that I had found some creative soul mates. Seeing this editorial made me have such a 'connecting the dots' moment- these guys are such love children of Blink-182. The guy on the bottom right is what Tom and Mark's faces would look like smooshed together- seriously, watch the video. This editorial is just so Blink-esque- not only the ridiculous clothes that could have easily replaced the ones seen in the original video, but the slack-jawed, winking, lip-biting poses that set my heart aflutter.  

[images via I Love Fake magazine]

Ombre Sunglasses

What I wish would come back? Tinted ombre sunglasses (Chloe made these ones) which were SO POPULAR in the early 2000s. The little jewel heart or star in the corner is so cheesy but so perfect and Charlie's Angels agree. Watching this movie again reminded me of that early 2000s take on retro that I love so much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Screencaps by me!]

Something  that I've been asking myself a lot lately, going into senior year, is 'what is my personal style?'. I keep second guessing what I wear, thinking that it won't go with what I'm trying to portray. What I've realized is that one's style cannot be determined by choices in "image" or whatever. Style evolves based on what the person picks out while shopping, what they're immediately drawn to when they look in a magazine or go into a store.

With one year left of high school, I'm wearing whatever I want. Ombre bejeweled sunglasses were 'out' ten years ago? Hm, no they're not to me because I like them. That "fierce" trend of super tall black heels and strong shouldered coats? Not so me. Personal style happens when I'm totally honest with myself about what I like and what I'm drawn to immediately- how can you express yourself when you're lying to yourself about liking something? I forget who said it, but I totally agree that there is a fine line between fashion and style: the clothes vs. the ideas.

More Moleskine

So I'm going to let you know that this post is not about fashion. I'm not really in a fashion mindset lately and even with the amazing fall clothes coming out, they remind me that S*** is starting up again eventually. I  just love summer SO MUCH that it's painful to think of fall. I just don't like it. I feel in the mood to gush some more about deep and meaningful philosophies that will affect the way you live for the rest of your life. Is that ok?

**************

I can't stop staring at these pictures. I love having them curated in my moleskine- they fit together so well in my opinion. Each one helps define a certain feeling that I loosely label 'contemplation' but is definitely more. The characters in the movies shown are all quietly fighting with themselves and just thinking..and so is Kurt Cobain, come to think of it. You know how Will Ferell in Elf says that 'smiling's my favourite!'? Well thinking's my favorite. I'm totally a supporter of alone time to collect thoughts n stuff.  I just feel a surge of empathy for these people when I see this collection of moments. Fuzzy lights, cluttered homes, lit up faces, and Strawberry Quik (see cobain) are so attractive. Watch these movies please.

[Kym- Rachel Getting Married | Alex- Paranoid Park |  Will- Good Will Hunting | Kurt Cobain]

I won't know anyone

"this song makes sweet love to my soul every single time that I hear it."- Anon Youtube comment

If you know me, you'd know that I LOVE youtube comments!* The vulgarity, racism, annoying pre-teen girls professing their love, and michael jackson tidbits are enough to drive me off youtube forever..except not really. The comment above is one that I saw attached to this diy video for the song "Jesus Christ" by Brand New. I thought it was kind of funny. That's all.

*sarcasm

The lyrics in this song are really nice, even though this song could be considered "emo," I feel like I have a connection to the words. This song makes me want to wallow in self-pity. I also wanted to attach more of my current fave flickr user's (Yyellowbird) photos. I find that they're exactly what I pictured when listening to this. It reminds me of the drive between Seattle and Vancouver- misty, humid, cool colors, kind of sad. The photos make me feel sad. Even though I've been having the best summer evarr, I should probably level it out with a good cry, which we all hate to admit, is super fun.

PS- I'm so sick of people judging other people by what they listen to. You can listen to both the Smiths and Snoop Doggy Dog if you darn well feel like it!! I would say that the more variety in your music library, the more it will represent your personality.

[Photos via Yyellowbird]

Hole

Soo  about 3 weeks ago, I got the pleasure of seeing.. HOLE (!!) on July 9th (aka C.Love's birthday). Donning my rainbow flower embroidered overall-shorts, fringed mocs, and purple lipstick, I set out in the early evening to a concert I had been apprehensively* anticipating for months since Hole had been added to the bill. Going two hours in advance to be as close as possible was actually needed (unlike Tokyo Police Club the next night..). It seemed like I was surrounded by everyone who was a teenager in the '90s, who were throwing flowers and bringing pink party hats and noise makers. At that point it had been raining for the entire time we had been waiting, so my hair was completely soaked, the party hats were disintegrating, and clothes felt heavy and moist. It was really nice in a nasty sort of way.

*Afraid of them playing Blues & all new material

[Images via acidstars.org]

Luckily the rain stopped for Courtney and eventually my hair  was shaken dry to an elongated version of what I like to call "The Kurt Cobain." She started off with Skinny Little Bitch (off the new album), but went on to play older material. When Boys on the Radio came on , ("in those endless summer nights...") the sun was setting so beautifully and then gradually turned purple-y when she started Violet- how serendipitous! Luckily, the sunset stuck around for Malibu  (...as the sun goes down I watch you slip away..) and I almost cried. Seeing bands live sometimes brings me to tears- not hysterical tears of obsession like those seen at Fall Out Boy circa gr.8- but feeling this amazing connection with the music that can only be described in the moment. The show totally made me love Northern Star, and want to play it on the guitar. Finally, Courtney let the crowd sing her happy birthday when she said she was ready to accept that she was turning 29..again.  I'm not sure whether she'll look back on her birthday of 2010 as exceptionally fun & exciting, but I know that I'll remember it.

[HBD Courtney]