grey as blog

grey as sun

Monday, July 23, 2007

broken english has broken my heart...

Broken English, the movie. It was just okay. interesting story. TOTAL chick-flick. Could have been better executed, but who knows? Actually, I know... and it could have been better executed.

Parker Posey is a fantastic character actress - she's best when she's playing super neurotic, eccentric people (aka, House Of Yes, Party Girl, Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman, etc.). Here, she's playing more of a normal girl that's not quite sure of herself or what she wants. She has her moments, but sometimes it seems a little forced and "Acting-101" for my tastes.

Justin Thereaux is in the movie for like... 10minutes. He's not likeable at all. Right off the bat, I can tell he's gonna be like the short-lived "dick-in-the-movie" guy. His acting is a bit over the top for his character. I dunno...

Overall, I give the movie a B-. It could be better, but it could be MUCH worse, and it kept my attention throughout enough to keep me in the theater.

I had a WONDERFUL weekend - I got a bike, signed my lease, got my new apartment keys, saw Broken English, went out on a speed boat in Lake Michigan, hung out with someone i have a HUGE crush on and went to Ravinia for the first time ever.

Ravinia is an odd place, for sure. Lawn seats are nice cause of the nice landscaping, but those suburbanites really bring out the big guns to picnic - like, miniature tables, folding chairs with oddoman's... full dinner meals, etc.

What really got me was the giant modern building at the entrance, and all the modern and post-modern sculpture that lined the walkways and park. Where did all THAT come from?

So yea - speed boat = awesome. Always. Speed boat x 10, and I'll be a happy camper. SO MUCH FUN!!! I need to thank the boat owner (Chris) for having me on board. My friend Tim went, and I get the feeling he's unhappy these days - we'll have to do something about that.

writing writing writing - After the move, I'm writing lyrics. I have ideas now, but nothing set. I have 7 songs ready to record. 4 for Study of Trees, and 3 for Grey As Sun. The time is now. I have no more schooling left. I have nothing set in stone after my move. I can't WAIT to make this happen.

So I'm gonna get outta here.

xoxo

posted by grey as mike @ 12:31 PM 1 comments

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

dirty, filthy...

I feel disgusting today - and I don't know why, and there's really no reason for it.

I saw the movie Once this weekend. It's really good, in my opinion. I like the way it was shot, and how honest it seems. Glen Hansard (of the Frames, a band I'm not sure that I like all that much, in part because of his vocals - but they do put on a good live show - but anyway...) actually did a good job acting. Most musicians gone acting aren't very memorable. I'm not saying I'd give him awards or anything, but it was pretty well-done.

So, i got the soundtrack, and it's been heating up the Flash memory of my iPod for a couple days. I recommend it.

I also JUST NOW picked up a new Maritime mp3 from their album coming out in October. That album seriously can't come out fast enough.

Tonight (weather dependent, of course) will see myself and my friend John going to Millenium Park to see The Decembrists play with the CSO. We'll see how that turns out, but I think it's supposed to SERIOUSLY rain like... all night.

Alright, I guess that's all - I have a call to jump on here. Later kids!

xoxo

posted by grey as mike @ 2:50 PM 1 comments

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Music? I'll GIVE you your FUCKING music!!!

in only the most polite way possible ;-).

Here's a listing of songs that you should listen to:

1) Dear and the Headlights - Grace: This song is pretty intense, and it has a nice rhythm to it, as well as a nice buildup and send off. They're playing at Lollapalooza, and I had a sticky note on my computer at work since February to check them out - My friend Ryan finally came to the rescue.

2) Maritime - Tearing up the Oxygen: BY FAR, my favorite jam on this record. It's high energy, but soothing and inviting at the same time. This band is making its way into my favorites rather quickly.

3) Minus the Bear - Ice Monster: This song is a bit weird at first, but the lyrics are interesting, and the end has a nice build to it - forceful, yet intricate and accurate. Good times.

4) Muse - Starlight: This band has grown on me. Am I diehard? no - but I'll see them at Lollapalooza, and from what I hear, they put on a fantastic live show.

5) The National - Squalor Victoria: This song is so... odd. Ummm, i want to film a video of like, a pastor or local politician winning some form of election - and I want to lace the video with scandalous things, like drug use and pornography and adultery. I dunno - it just has that perfect creepy feeling to it.

6) Oh My God - Get Out To Sea: I didn't like this song much at first, but it grew on me. Now, I love it - It's fun and dark and punk and pop - it's a smattering of sounds that's fun to workout to.

7) Smashing Pumpkins - United States: Now, Billy has snubbed chicago - so I'm mad at him. This new album is - well, strong, but it's no smashing pumpkins album. I want things back to the sensitive n'er-do-well stylings of before. However, this song is an all out rock anthem, the drumming is flawless, the forceful guitars are riot-inducing... It makes me wonder if this is the song the drummer claimed "would burn the lies right off the face of the non-believers." Indeed...

So there you have it... 7 songs that you should listen to. They're good, and you should like them. Cause they're good.

I'm bored. I'm gonna get outta here.

xoxoxo

posted by grey as mike @ 9:57 AM 0 comments

Sunday, July 08, 2007

CHEEZE IT, THE FEDS!!!

well, actually - the Police.

who I saw at wrigley field on Friday. Life changing...

They were pretty good seats, the band played flawlessly, the ticket i really can't afford was more than worth it. Stewart Copeland is like a top 5 drummer on my list (jimmy chamberlin, damon atkinson and him probably round out the top 3, actually - and not in any particular order).

To see them playing again in that giant sold out arena setting was just amazing. There really isn't another band that sounds like them - that's not easy to do. Other 80's music that i still listen to, like Tears For Fears (OH YES!!! THAT IS FUCKING RIGHT!!!), have the distinct sound, but does it lead to multi-country sold out arena reunion tours? I think not...

let's see, reunions - they reunited. The smashing pumpkins (kind of) reunited. Genesis has reunited. There's lots of reunions this year.

I got the new smashing pumpkins album - it's okay. Ummm... 2 songs on it are classic smashing pumpkins rock perfection, 3 other songs are in the flavor of the pumpkins, but the weaker pumpkins songs - the ones they normally saved for Bsides. The rest are filler, in my eyes. Billy's voice sounds digitally altered quite a bit - smoother and lighter with more vocal range than before. Jimmy's drumming is (as always) brilliant. The song United States gives him his once/per/album true spotlight for his ability - really, there's a couple of those per album, but this is the lone standout on this one.

I'm still mad at them for snubbing chicago, and releasing 4 different versions of the album to drive more sales - too commercial for me, considering this band said fuck you to the labels 7 years ago when it put its last album out on the internet for free.

I'm listening to music at Argo Tea right now on my ipod. I have my ipod louder when i'm outside, and when i come in I don't always realize that it's as loud as it is, so i turn it down to tune out some distractions... but i find that no matter the volume, it really consumes me - i notice myself playing air drums and air guitar along to the music in public spaces like buses and argo tea - and then i realize why i'm single.

I AM the crazy guy that plays air instruments while out in public. I'm one step away from dancing as I walk while belting out the words to the songs to people walking down the street.

Awesome.

So now i do the work for the report that's due wednesday and the presentation that's due monday. I think i have enough sources. I think I have all the information I need. I think that i'm ready for school to just be DONE! It will be SO nice.

I guess i should get back to work.

xoxo

posted by grey as mike @ 11:28 AM 1 comments

Thursday, July 05, 2007

leaves... JUST GIVE ME THE F%$#ING LEAVES!!!

tea leaves, that is... I'm at Argo Tea, and possibly over-caffienated. it's getting a little late. It's a little crazy in the land of ganz right now. SO... Let's go down the list:

a) new grey as sun website - www.greyassun.com

this is a cool site, for once I'm actually proud of it. I can't wait to share my new sound with you guys - I'm back to familiar ground, so it should be easy.

b) portfolio website - (in the works, but) design.greyassun.com/port-site1.html

this is just a shell - I'm working on sizing the content, scrolling, etc.

however, this is a nice shell. I'm hoping to get a new picture in there - one that doesn't look so - non-energetic. Then I'll fill it with content, and life will be good.

c) school - I OFFICIALLY graduate on wednesday of next week. My last class of my BFA is complete (for those in the dark, I had finished the graphic design BFA program, but was short 1 credit hour - so I had to take a summer class).

In this class, i've actually learned quite a bit, and it's been nice getting back to my art studies instead of non-stop graphic design. (the class is Art Since 1945, btw).

Since all the celebration stuff was done 2 months ago, I'm a little more relieved than excited, but it will be exciting to finally have that chapter closed for good.

d) job - i'm not going to jynx anything - but i'm looking and have prospects.

e) home - they actually sold the condo that I'm living in, so i'm out as of August 1. I'm currently looking for a place, or for roommates, or for rooms - who knows?!? What sucks is that Aug. 1 is not a normal move day - all the students take everything up quickly. September is when everything is available right now.

when I looked last month, everyone said they were waiting to see what their availability was, or that the places had already been filled. Now, all of them are gone. WHERE DID THEY GO?!?! was with window only open for like 10minutes?

What the hell!?

Today i had a minor freak out about the whole thing, but i'm actually excited to move. I HATE HATE HATE moving, but the opportunity to purge and get some new scenery... it's just awesome.

There's a couple prospects here as well. We shall see...

f) car - i'm 90% there. Probably once I move, i'll just get rid of it. The thought of not having a car in Chicago is a little scary to me, but I think it's just a safety net - like, i rely on it solely by knowing it's there if i need it. I don't feel confined. Even though I've only put 7,000 miles on it since late 2004. I'm sure I'll adjust.

and I'm sure my paid off bills, and $700/mo savings would more than make up for the cost to rent a car if i need to get out.

g) work - it actually got a little busy at work - i was just as shocked as you!

h) lovelife - non-existent. I haven't really been making myself available. And that's okay. I can deal with that.

---

So now I sit at Argo Tea - their AC is FREEZING - always is, which is why i bring a jacket in the middle of summer. I'm pondering my future in this city... I'll be in a new place without my car around new people with a new job and in a different part of town and single. A clean slate would be SO great right now, but even I know that's just not that easy.

my overall feeling is of optimism. I'm sure i'll freak out and think everyone is against me and whatnot. But that's just me being dramatic.

i guess I'm gonna log outta this thing - I came here to work, but there's not enough time, and i'm TOTALLY freezing in here (why did i wear my gym clothes here? ugh...)

You now have the update. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave comments - it gives me something to look at during the day, hehe.

xoxo

posted by grey as mike @ 9:27 PM 1 comments

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