today...

Today I asked a German girl for her phone number.  

She said 999-9999.

Wish me luck! 

excellent fantasy art

Though I love fantasy RPGs like Skyrim and the artwork of D&D, I've never been a big Lord of the Rings fan.  I have always felt that the movies took three or four hours to say something that could have been said in two.  Maybe I need to give the films another chance.  I watched Fellowship last weekend and it was better than I remembered.  

impressive artwork via Kilian Eng (Pinterest)

tuesday thoughts

Just a totally chill picture of Monica Bellucci.  

this week's movie

Last night I watched a great quality copy of this 1989 flick free on Youtube.  It was a lot of dumb fun but it still gets my recommendation. The title pretty much says it all - it's a Phantom of the Opera-style story set in a Los Angeles shopping mall in the 1980's.  Lots of gore, boobs and surprisingly strong effects and stunts.  There is no shortage of cheese here, but it was never dull.

dabang sunday

Exploring the old school dabang cafes in Euljiro. 

cafe in the rain

My neighborhood has no shortage of fine cafes. 

Here is some accompanying music I made that goes with the picture: You're Being Followed.  I was trying for a Saw-like horror movie vibe.

tonight's cinema adventure: dracula

I am settled with a hot drink and a remastered copy of 1958's Dracula, starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.  And so...I am a simple old man in heaven this Thursday evening.  

When I was a sophomore in high school I read Bram Stoker's novel and loved every page of it.  That same year I saw Coppola's 1992 version of the story, which is still my favorite Dracula film with its phenomenal production design and narrative focus on the tragic romance between Mina and Dracula.  That film I've seen countless times, but with this older version it's been a while. It feels fresh and I remember little. 

our campus

It's nice to take walks between classes.

i'll keep digging till i feel something

 

I remember the first and only time I saw Tool play live.  It was at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on September 13th, 2001 (it was originally scheduled for the 11th).   That was an intense show and I remember actually feeling on edge there.  Someone was waving a giant American flag right before the set and the crowd started to rumble and the whole building became electric. Then the band played a great show.  Anyhow, this woman does a fantastic cover of Stinkfist and I think it's worth your time. She has a powerful voice.

sweet god almighty

I'm not even interested in fashion much (don't let my amazing Amazon.com chic fool you ) but it's hard to take your eyes off of her.  She looks unbelievably good.  

bad computer dreams

Just playing with some A.I. art generators this morning.  I think it would be fun to start making some accompanying music for things like this. 

Edit: Ok, I'm actually working on it now!  It's got some Acid bass and Moog synths.  Will post when it's done...if  in fact I actually like it.  

my new EP: you are good to me

A new EP of recent demos I made and are now on my bandcamp: you are good to me. I have posted several of these tracks on my soundcloud, but I wanted to put something together as a mini-album. 

monday cafe exploration

After a nice holiday with coffee, company and pasta, I finished a new track this evening.  It's short but has light vibes.  I was thinking a lot about 90's nostalgia when I made it.  Listen here:  Videotapes and DVDs.

more giger

A fantastic documentary on H.R. Giger.  Like many people I was first exposed to his work through Ridley Scott's Alien and I was immediately hooked.  The man was endlessly fascinating.  I still can't get enough of him.  

today!

random thought

In my humble opinion this is the single greatest scene ever filmed in motion picture history.  

book haul

This week's books are some high-quality collections that are dense with information but also have impressive (and rare!) artwork alongside.  I have a long weekend ahead and shall be devouring.    They are nice additions to the few coffee table art books I've got at home.  

godzilla

(via Pinterest)

thoughts on challengers (spoiler free)

Aight.  At my office with my lesson prep done, so some thoughts on yesterday's viewing of Challengers are called for.

1) Overall, I liked it.  I don't give two shits about love triangles or tennis...yet the movie made a compelling narrative of them.  Respect to the director for this.  The story is the film's greatest strength.

2) Great energy and pacing.  No dull moments for the most part. Looks and sounds great. The music by Trent and Atticus was strong (so much that I went home and experimented with some techno bangers myself) and worked well in ways I didn't expect.  

3) The characters?  Meh.  Kind of average.  I think they are thought-out and developed enough (I've read one reviewer I really respect disagree with this), but none of them are actually likable or interesting to me, and that is something very important to me when I enjoy a flick.  

Do I recommend it?  Sure.  It was simply fun.  And Zendaya...good lordy.  

a cinecube day

Today I had the day off so I went to the Cinecube theater in Gwanghamun to see Challengers. Not bad!

marilyn monroe 1953

 

you hit pretty hard

 A short but more upbeat piece of music that I made this week:  You Hit Pretty Hard.  

quote of the day

 A line from the old Jim Carrey comedy Me, Myself and Irene that gave me a good laugh recently:

Irene:  I never wanted to sleep with you, Hank.  Okay, you tricked me!

Hank:  Yes, I tricked you.  It was deceitful, it was disgusting and despicable.  But just for once, try to see it from my side....I was horny.    

sunday morning

One reason I started writing on a blog again after years of not doing it was because I wasn't a fan of the Facebook and Instagram experience that force you to see whatever somebody has posted.  I like the idea of putting something out there, and if your friends are interested in seeing it, they search it out (I wonder what the dork is up to...let me check). I don't want this to be on a feed, ideally.  It's public, but also feels a bit more private.

It also gives me a chance to easier display my odd creative work.  This morning I'm posting a soundscape I wrote a short while ago:  Recovery Modulating.  

And...a not so random thought.  This Wednesday, on May 1st, it will be 7 years of no drinking for me (and I mean not a single sip). I do not say this to be preachy, righteous or to suggest that my life was some disaster when I did drink (I assure you it was not; I frequently had a fucking blast).  For a few very good reasons, though, I knew that that lifestyle was completely unsustainable.  So I quit and, whaddyaknow, I ended up becoming happier than I had ever been before.  I enjoy the discipline and self respect that staying away from alcohol affords me. 

The moral of the story?  Don't fuckin' negotiate with terrorists.  Keep your head together. 

local humor

I walked by this today and thought it was a cool name for a bar.  It's called 신술동, which is right next to 신설동 station. The way they changed the second syllable block to mean 'alcohol' is clever.  King Sejong would be proud.