Attention JWAB nation! I would ask if you all can just vote for these two talented people. It is but a small favour for a friend. It’s a simple email entry, and I think it’s 1 vote per 24 hours. Oh, and don’t forget to validate the email so that the vote counts. This is much appreciated. Thank you!
awesome
Snappy Fridays – A Visit to Motown
Last week, as you may have heard, I went on a road trip. I hit 3 destinations: (more…)
It’s A Weekend Thing – “Labour-ious” Weekend Events in the T-Dot!
Credit: Intersection/Yonge Dundas Square
It goes without saying that the Labour Day weekend is, unofficially, the last days of summer. Without further ado, here’s my list of things happening around town. Items 2, 3 and 4 you need to have tickets (although read up on #4 – there are ways to see it for “free”), but otherwise these events are free. Have a great weekend! (more…)
It’s A Weekend Thing… OMG! SO MANY EVENTS!!
Photo credit: PCCC, Warren John, Taste of Manila.
There are tons of events happening this weekend, I don’t know where to go to yet! Here’s my quick list (and brief synopsis of the event) that I can share.
Alvin’s Film Follies (Part IX – Penny Tries Velvia and A Digital Fisheye?)
Over the past couple of weeks, I was camping and was also waiting for my first roll of slide film (Fujifilm Velvia 50) to come back from the folks at DC. Due to my ignorance, I didn’t know that it would take two weeks for the film to get processed. “Oh well,” I said to myself, “What to do in the meantime?”
Fujifilm’s Legendary Fujichrome Velvia 50 Slide Film
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Impressions [UPDATE]
Just a quick update on my progress on the Definitive Edition of Tomb Raider. Even though I had beaten the PS3 version (100% on the single player campaign), I still find myself enjoying Lara’s rebooted adventure. It’s actually a bit fun now, as I’m just really toying with the NPC’s, even with Lara’s low skill level at this point in the game. Anyway, I find the graphics to be great, and it does add another layer of challenge to the game. Early on in the game, with the weather ravaging and slowing Lara’s progress, with blinding lightning, and rain drops filling the screen, it makes for an added element of hardship, and it makes you feel like you are there.
I mentioned before the jungle seems more livelier on this version as opposed to the PS3 or even the PC version on ultimate. Lara’s clothes also seemed more detailed. These are just initial findings though. I need to catch up on the PC version to see more and do a better comparison graphically. The few little things that they added to the PS4 version is a nice touch, like using the Dual Shock 4’s speakers for foot steps, gun fire, and other arbitrary sound effects. It’s not much, but it somehow add’s a lot. I notice the sound effects sound a bit better. Once I get my capture rig going again, I’ll post more video’s of all 3 versions. For now I leave you with some screen shots done via the PS4’s share button. I did adjust them slightly for clarity.
Lighting effects are great
Facial detail is absolutely stunning
Nice textures on her hand wrap
She really needs a day in the spa
Earworm: “Changing of the Seasons” by Two Door Cinema Club
In honor of the release of their new EP, I’m going to give you all a heads up on the first song to be released off their upcoming album. This song has been out for a few months now, but damn, it’s still good, and the two (or three, depending on your region) songs that released on the EP titled after the first single aren’t slacking either.
The titular track is the bee’s knees. Yeah. It’s that good to me that I had to use some retro lingo to describe how much I fucking liked it.
Have a listen to this track.
Oh, and enjoy the video, I did. It makes zero sense. I love it when things make no sense.
Earworm: “Flaws” by Bastille
You all know my weak heart for indie rock.
And we all know how much I love the UK. And having recently rediscovered Bastille through YouTube of all places, I figured I’d share this with you all.
I’ve had Bastille’s debut album Bad Blood sitting in my music folder for the longest time, my friends had recommended them to me and I downloaded their album without even thinking about if I would like their music or not. This is one of the greatest leaps of faith ever, because lo and behold, I love their music. They’re a high quality four man group, and Dan Smith’s vocals definitely throw it over the edge.
And his hair? DAMN HIS HAIR IS AWESOME. (This lil bit about hair is a little joke at The Big Cheese and my other cousins who mock me and my “One Direction” hair. By the way, my gravitar is inaccurate to my face, now. I should change that.)
Anyway.
Bastille is great, listen to the entire album Bad Blood. Look up their acoustic sessions on YouTube. Find their Abbey Road sessions, too. It’s incredible. The violins and the vocals it’s just heavenly.
Regular:
Acoustic Live in Paris:
Abbey Road:
Earworm: “Ocean’s Deep” by Born Ruffians
Judge my indie music taste. I dare you.
[Disclaimer: hipster music has gotten to me.]
Born Ruffians is a band incredibly popular on SoundCloud, and I realize why. Their sound is infectious. “Exuberant pop,” I heard, was one of their taglines on SoundCloud. And it reigns true to its word, this description.
Lead singer Luke Lalonde has one of those whiny voices girls swoon over, but I’m glad zero of my friends know of this band, for they’d ruin it for me.
My largest fear for indie bands (and yes, this is so ‘hipster’ for me to say) is to see them become a radio/production company puppet. One where their music no longer comes from the heart but from trying to make pop hits. Acts lose their integrity from fame, it’s the sad truth. Sure, some bands handle it properly, such as Fall Out Boy and Paramore and Panic! at the Disco (all coincidentally signed to Fueled by Ramen records). But many bands just go to shit.
Born Ruffians is unheard of, and they’re unspeakably good.
Have a listen to this acoustic jam.
And here’s the regular edition.
Let me know which one you prefer!
Earworm: “The Run and Go” by Twenty One Pilots
Who knew Ohio could produce such great musical duos?
Akron already blessed us with The Black Keys, and here come along twenty | one | pilots from Columbus?
Surely they were a well known band before I discovered them, but wow my ears are pleased. Very pleased. They’re another fantastic band signed to Fueled by Ramen.
My friend Marco had been trying so hard to get me to listen to their music, always plugging them into conversations here and there. At around 4 in the morning, I decided, hey, what’s some new music to listen to? Oh, right, these guys! And here I am. Pointlessly rambling to a computer screen hoping for you guys to read this and listen to the same music as I do.
Unfortunately, the voice of lead singer Tyler Joseph does have a bit of a resemblance to Nate Ruess, lead singer of fun.
So here. Enjoy it.
I just wrote a blog 