"Hunting Bears"
Instrumental
(2001. Amnesiac)
This song is like an arrow into my heart and soul. I can't even explain why. There is something about it that I am obsessed with. I think it's the fingers moving on the strings, the added synth (?) halfway through that adds an eerie accompaniment, the fact that I create a short film in my mind every time I hear it. It just sounds so simple and precise, yet at the same time it comes across with so much depth.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Cruel Summer
I try so hard to not be obsessed with the weather, but when the upcoming forecast for the last week of October has a high of 81 in there, I can't help it. It's depressing me that it's been so warm this October.
But is it really just "this October"? Timehop has been ever so kind to remind me that the past few Octobers have been unseasonably warm. It's not a fact I've forgotten, but each year a part of me has such high hopes that we will again have an October like I remember from my childhood. One that requires at least a light jacket. One during which the fallen leaves are actually crunchy and not soft with humidity. (Yuck!)
A week from now it will be November. NOVEMBER! It feels more like September around here and it upsets me that I am not in the mindset for fun Fall stuff like pumpkins and Thanksgiving and sweaters. I love this time of year and always want the lead up to Christmas to feel long, but so far, it's like we've been robbed of an entire month. Two months from yesterday will be Christmas Eve. Isn't that wild? It seems to close and it's because in my brain, it's still late summer.
And then there's the news. Yesterday the meteorologist said "Perfect 10 out of 10 today!" Oh yeah, really? For October? Are you sure about that? In my opinion, perfect late October weather is in the 50s. I don't understand why the news gives their opinions on the weather. If anything, they should work around the averages of that time of year. Not everyone wants it to be sunny and warm.
I'm a realist about the weather, but I am also so optimistic and I'm not giving up hope that we can still have a good autumn. October had about a week of good days so let's move on to November and really enjoy it! Sub 50s, please!
XO,
SVR
+ Title from Banarama
But is it really just "this October"? Timehop has been ever so kind to remind me that the past few Octobers have been unseasonably warm. It's not a fact I've forgotten, but each year a part of me has such high hopes that we will again have an October like I remember from my childhood. One that requires at least a light jacket. One during which the fallen leaves are actually crunchy and not soft with humidity. (Yuck!)
A week from now it will be November. NOVEMBER! It feels more like September around here and it upsets me that I am not in the mindset for fun Fall stuff like pumpkins and Thanksgiving and sweaters. I love this time of year and always want the lead up to Christmas to feel long, but so far, it's like we've been robbed of an entire month. Two months from yesterday will be Christmas Eve. Isn't that wild? It seems to close and it's because in my brain, it's still late summer.
And then there's the news. Yesterday the meteorologist said "Perfect 10 out of 10 today!" Oh yeah, really? For October? Are you sure about that? In my opinion, perfect late October weather is in the 50s. I don't understand why the news gives their opinions on the weather. If anything, they should work around the averages of that time of year. Not everyone wants it to be sunny and warm.
I'm a realist about the weather, but I am also so optimistic and I'm not giving up hope that we can still have a good autumn. October had about a week of good days so let's move on to November and really enjoy it! Sub 50s, please!
XO,
SVR
+ Title from Banarama
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Day 11: Glasgow to Home
I don't have many photos from our last moments in Scotland as it was a travel day and those are stressful. I was also pretty bummed to be ending our trip (although very excited to get back to my washing machine!).
We took one of the easiest bus(s)es from just up the street from our hotel to the Glasgow Airport at about 9 or so that morning. It was really nice to not have to wake up at the crack of dawn! We got to the airport super early and just read for awhile while we waited to check in. I actually don't remember too much from the Glasgow Airport except for the time we spent reading.
From Glasgow we flew to Heathrow where we had a short layover and I tried to get more information about my lost camera. Long story short: they never found it and I got reimbursed from travel insurance. (Yay!) It was also here that we ordered iced coffees from the Starbucks and the baristas were super confused.
The flight home was loonnngggggggg and the person in front of me had their seat reclined back the entire time. The Worst. Luckily, our seat mate was a big fan of getting up a lot, which works out super well!
Back in Boston we had a great surprise when my brother-in-law met us at the airport! How sweet is he!? I could barely drive after 10 days of not being behind the wheel and 7+ hours in the plane, but we made it back to Ali's house and crashed.
As you've hopefully read in my daily summaries, our trip was epic and it was such a treat to get to go to the amazing country of Scotland with my sister. It's something I'll always remember.
XO,
SVR
P.S. Can't wait to go back!
We took one of the easiest bus(s)es from just up the street from our hotel to the Glasgow Airport at about 9 or so that morning. It was really nice to not have to wake up at the crack of dawn! We got to the airport super early and just read for awhile while we waited to check in. I actually don't remember too much from the Glasgow Airport except for the time we spent reading.
From Glasgow we flew to Heathrow where we had a short layover and I tried to get more information about my lost camera. Long story short: they never found it and I got reimbursed from travel insurance. (Yay!) It was also here that we ordered iced coffees from the Starbucks and the baristas were super confused.
The flight home was loonnngggggggg and the person in front of me had their seat reclined back the entire time. The Worst. Luckily, our seat mate was a big fan of getting up a lot, which works out super well!
Back in Boston we had a great surprise when my brother-in-law met us at the airport! How sweet is he!? I could barely drive after 10 days of not being behind the wheel and 7+ hours in the plane, but we made it back to Ali's house and crashed.
As you've hopefully read in my daily summaries, our trip was epic and it was such a treat to get to go to the amazing country of Scotland with my sister. It's something I'll always remember.
XO,
SVR
P.S. Can't wait to go back!
Sunday, October 19, 2014
"Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors" vs "Fake Plastic Trees"
"Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors"
There are barn doors
And there are revolving doors
Doors on the rudders of big ships
We are revolving doors
There are doors that open by themselves
There are sliding doors
And there are secret doors
There are doors that lock
And doors that don't
There are doors that let you in
And out
But never open
But they are trapdoors
That you can't come back from
(2001. Amnesiac)
This is a total robot song. No melody, no real singing. It's just kind of there.
Fake Plastic Trees
Her green plastic watering can for
her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth
What she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber bands
to get rid of itself
It wears her out, it wears her out
It wears her out, it wears her out
She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyreneman
Who just crumbles and burns
He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins
And it wears him out, it wears him out
It wears him out, it wears him
She Looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
And it wears me out, it wears me out
It wears me out, it wears me out
If i could be who you wanted
If i could be who you wanted all the time, all the time
(1994. The Bends)
Is this really from 1994? It has held up so well! I've probably said it before, but my favorite songs almost always have a huge crescendo at the end with a softer resolution. With a lot of Radiohead songs, I love that they sound like they're being sung in an empty bathroom. It's an echo or something or maybe it's just that Thom Yorke is that good and it's not over-produced. I also love songs that get me tapping my foot to a beat that I'm not aware of. Whether it be the bass line or drums that I can't pinpoint- I love it! I think it's a sign of a well-constructed song. Anyway....I didn't really need to write so much about this song. It's great!
And the winner is...
Fake Plastic Trees.
There are barn doors
And there are revolving doors
Doors on the rudders of big ships
We are revolving doors
There are doors that open by themselves
There are sliding doors
And there are secret doors
There are doors that lock
And doors that don't
There are doors that let you in
And out
But never open
But they are trapdoors
That you can't come back from
(2001. Amnesiac)
This is a total robot song. No melody, no real singing. It's just kind of there.
Fake Plastic Trees
Her green plastic watering can for
her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth
What she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber bands
to get rid of itself
It wears her out, it wears her out
It wears her out, it wears her out
She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyreneman
Who just crumbles and burns
He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins
And it wears him out, it wears him out
It wears him out, it wears him
She Looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
And it wears me out, it wears me out
It wears me out, it wears me out
If i could be who you wanted
If i could be who you wanted all the time, all the time
(1994. The Bends)
Is this really from 1994? It has held up so well! I've probably said it before, but my favorite songs almost always have a huge crescendo at the end with a softer resolution. With a lot of Radiohead songs, I love that they sound like they're being sung in an empty bathroom. It's an echo or something or maybe it's just that Thom Yorke is that good and it's not over-produced. I also love songs that get me tapping my foot to a beat that I'm not aware of. Whether it be the bass line or drums that I can't pinpoint- I love it! I think it's a sign of a well-constructed song. Anyway....I didn't really need to write so much about this song. It's great!
And the winner is...
Fake Plastic Trees.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
"Reckoner" vs "You Never Wash Up After Yourself"
It's been awhile, but I haven't forgotten about my Radiohead bracket to figure out my favorite song. Check it out: HERE.
"Reckoner"
Reckoner
You can't take it with you
Dancing for your pleasure
You are not to blame for
Bittersweet distractors
Dare not speak its name
Dedicated to all human beings
Because we separate
Like ripples on a blank shore
In rainbows
Because we separate
The ripples on a black shore
Reckoner, take me with you
Dedicated to all human beings
(2007. In Rainbows)
This is a delicate song, but with movement. This song reminds me of being up too late. It's weird because when I listen to it, I think "This is kind of a dull song" but then I never change it and by the time it's over, I realize I've been singing along. That's got to say something, eh?
"You Never Wash Up After Yourself"
I must get out once in a while
Everything is starting to die
The dust settles, the worms dig
Spiders crawl over the bed
I must get out once in a while
I eat all day and now I'm fat
Yesterday's meal is hugging the plate
You never wash up after yourself
(1994. My Iron Lung)
I am a sucker for arpeggios. Does "Reckoner" even have a chance? I'm so torn because I think "Reckoner" is a betteng, but there's something about "You Never Wash Up After Yourself" that I love. I love how the voice rises and sounds like he gets too close to the microphone and it sounds very...raw. BUT I don't like how the song just ends. It feels a bit unfinished to me.
And the winner is...
I have no idea. I'm listening to them again to be sure. OKAY OKAY OKAY....I'm going with....
Reckoner!
"Reckoner"
Reckoner
You can't take it with you
Dancing for your pleasure
You are not to blame for
Bittersweet distractors
Dare not speak its name
Dedicated to all human beings
Because we separate
Like ripples on a blank shore
In rainbows
Because we separate
The ripples on a black shore
Reckoner, take me with you
Dedicated to all human beings
(2007. In Rainbows)
This is a delicate song, but with movement. This song reminds me of being up too late. It's weird because when I listen to it, I think "This is kind of a dull song" but then I never change it and by the time it's over, I realize I've been singing along. That's got to say something, eh?
"You Never Wash Up After Yourself"
I must get out once in a while
Everything is starting to die
The dust settles, the worms dig
Spiders crawl over the bed
I must get out once in a while
I eat all day and now I'm fat
Yesterday's meal is hugging the plate
You never wash up after yourself
(1994. My Iron Lung)
I am a sucker for arpeggios. Does "Reckoner" even have a chance? I'm so torn because I think "Reckoner" is a betteng, but there's something about "You Never Wash Up After Yourself" that I love. I love how the voice rises and sounds like he gets too close to the microphone and it sounds very...raw. BUT I don't like how the song just ends. It feels a bit unfinished to me.
And the winner is...
I have no idea. I'm listening to them again to be sure. OKAY OKAY OKAY....I'm going with....
Reckoner!
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