Album of the Week: Teenage Dream

I remember back in 2008 when I really started getting into Katy Perry that I couldn't wait for another album to come out. Low and behold, 2 years later, we have "Teenage Dream". There are only about 5 tracks that are worth listening to for me, and it's not really up to par with "One of the Boys" in terms of content. But the few songs that are good on the album really make up for the rest of it. "California Gurls" was the first single and was an instant hit. It's super catchy, a great dance song, and features Snoop Dog who you can't really go wrong with. The best song off the album is "Teenage Dream". Like so many other songs, it takes me instantly back to California, driving at night with the windows down, and it just reminds me of being with my friends back in high school for some reason.

The album itself is really all over the place, with catchy, mainstream pop songs like the previous two, R&B and Hip Hop beats and synthesizers and melancholic ballads with just a piano. Some might consider this a good thing, as it demonstrates Perry's musical arsenal but to me, there was no real theme or definitive sound to the album. But, I did pick it for Album of the Week for a reason.

It's a good effort for her sophomore album, and although it wasn't as good as "One of the Boys", like I said, it does have a few songs that make up for the rest of it that you'll be singing and dancing to for days on end.

Song of the day: Teenage Dream- Katy Perry

Until next time

Sary

Movie of the Week: Inception

I saw this movie about 2 or 3 weeks ago and it completely exceeded every expectation I had. It was an amazing movie, admittedly not the best in the world, but it gets the highest honors in my book for being the most original, imaginative movie I've ever seen. The special effects weren't over the top which is pretty incredible considering the subject matter, but they give the movie just the right amount of surreality without overdoing it. The score by Hans Zimmer is impeccable as always and really takes on a life of its own, especially the last song in the movie which is beyond words. Solid and believable performances by most, amazing performances by DiCaprio, Page, and Cotillard. It was pretty much expected by Leo and Marion, who are two of my favorite actors, but Ellen outdid herself proving that Juno and the Academy Award nomination were not just a fluke.

There were funny coincidences about the film too, ones that would only be noticeable to an Academy Awards buff like me: Both Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page were nominated for best actress the same year, to which Marion won for "La Vie en Rose". That film is a biopic about the famous french singer, Edith Piaf; one of her most famous songs is "Je ne regrette rien", a song which is a very prominent and important factor in the film "Inception". Marion and Ellen are now in that very same film together...haha, I don't know, I just thought it was a funny little factoid.

Bottom line: Go see this movie. I'll be the first to admit, it really starts to pick up about 25 minutes in, and I didn't understand a lot of what was happening until the very end, but it is so worth it. If you want to take a peek into Christopher Nolan's imagination (which is beyond words) you should definitely check this out. I promise you, you'll be blown away by its originality.

Song of the day: Time- Hans Zimmer

Until next time

Sary

Zen

The past few weeks have been ones of deep reflection and renovation of mind, body, and soul. The quarter finally ended a week ago, so I have about 2 weeks of time to myself. Being on vacation never felt so good. I have, for the most part, nothing to worry about and it's great having this huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.

I have been doing a lot of soul-searching once again, trying to figure out what I'm going to do once I get back to California, downloading some awesome music, reading, drawing again and have ventured into the world of meditation. Each day I take about 15 minutes to meditate and it's really invigorating. There are so many different aspects of meditation from different cultures and I have to admit it's a bit overwhelming: chakra, zen, nirvana, enlightenment, chi, auras, what have you. I'm trying out different ones right now and seeing which ones I like best.

In any case, I have realized it's so important to clear your mind every day, even if it is for a few minutes and just let go of every thought and worry in your mind (even though I have no troubles right now). I don't know how to describe it, but I feel more in control after meditation. It takes away any feeling of uselessness I might have. On the literary front, I have finished 1984 and have started reading The Hobbit. I forgot what an incredible imagination Tolkien has. I'm really going to enjoy reading it again.

So for the next few weeks, my goal is going to be to take care of my three essentials every day: mind, body and soul. Meditation takes care of the mind and soul I guess, I'm getting up early every morning to take a 20 minute walk (It'll probably get longer as the days progress), and reading and drawing take care of anything else. What I want to accomplish more than anything is to spend as little time on the T.V. and computer as possible. So far it's working out, but I had to write an entry seeing as how I haven't written in almost two weeks. And I know I owe you some events of the week... I'll do one for the next three days. For now, I'll leave you with a song I fell in love with last night.

Song of the day: If You Run- The Boxer Rebellion

Until next time,

Sary

Band of the Week: Best Coast

Not even the Beach Boys sounded this "California" or this "West Coast". If you want to be transported immediately to PCH, this is your band. Almost all of their songs have that hipster/indie feel with a generous amount of surfer pop thrown in; I know, hipster and pop are such a juxtaposition, but they make it work. Apart from their sound which is so addicting, they are great lyricists as well, and most girls can relate to atleast one of their songs. "Boyfriend" for example talks about a girl who wants this guy to be her boyfriend, but she can't tell him how she feels because he already has a girlfriend. The lyrics are so simple, but so effective:

"I wish he was my boyfriend

I wish he was my boyfriend

I'd love him to the very end but instead he's just a friend

I wish he was my boyfriend"

Usually when girls get all bitchy about not being able to be with a guy, underneath all the envy and bitterness, all we really want to say is quite simply, "I just wish he was my boyfriend!" Trust me, if you listen to the song, you'll know exactly where she is coming from.

All I can say is, if you want to know what the West Coast is all about in terms of attitude and music, you have to check this band out. They are everything that The Donnas should've done! I might add that there is one guy in the group, Bobb Bruno. Good for him!

Song of the day: Our Deal- Best Coast

Until next time,

Sary