Big Apologies.

Aaaand She’s back.

Meaning me. i’m back to write some more. Much hecticness in the real world, but I’ll never lose my interest in writing about various topics. Recently music is very much on my mind, across the board of genres. I want to learn to make great mix tapes and CD’s for everyone.

What i realized though is the subject of the song isn’t always intune with the mood of the song. For example, “love” is vague. Love in heavy metal is certainly different than love in piano.

I’ve been currently listening to alot of Ambient, chill, Relax, trance, etc. Some familiar bands in this genre might include Massive Attack, Portishead, and the like. I’ve found some really good similar ones that fans might be interested in.

listen to an example of Tricky here:

01-overcome

Just Like Deltron?

Remember Del? A supergroup of hip hop artists, composed of producer Dan the Automator, rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien and DJ Kid Koala. Their work features many other artists as well, all taking on various futuristic pseudonyms.

The group’s debut album Deltron 3030, released on May 23, 2000, is a concept album set in the year 3030 that tells of the fight against huge corporations that rule the universe by Del’s alter ego, Deltron Zero. The album is a landmark in the acid rap genre. The lyrics are characterized by extravagant allusions to futuristic outer-space themes in the tradition of Afrofuturist works by Sun Ra and George Clinton.

Following the release of the album, all three members worked on the Gorillaz‘ self-titled debut album.

It’s something many have pinpointed as “intelligent rap” – something other than rapping about pimps and hoes and all that overdone stuff.

So who’s level with Deltron? Here’s my list.

1. Hip Hop by Mos Def
2. Cartoon Capers by Dan the Automator
3. A to G by Blackalicious
4. Dope Transmission by Sound Providers
5. Law of Physics – Lootpack
6. will add more

Ana’s Collection #4: Love Songs

Due to recent events, i figured this would be an appropriate list. Here is what I’ve got, in no particular order, the songs that make me not just lust but wholely love :)

1.  Crimson and Clover – Velvet Underground
2. Feel Like Makin’ Love – Bad Company
3. I Miss You – Incubus
4. Hello, Dolly – Louis Armstrong
5. What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
6. All the Same – Sick Puppies
7. Amber – 311
8. All My Loving – The Beatles
9. I Want To Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
10. I’ve Just Seen A Face – The Beatles
11. I want You – The Beatles
12. Something – The Beatles
13. Faithful to the Night – Admiral Freebee
14. Dont Wanna Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
15. Here comes the sun – the beatles
16. Red Red Wine – Bob Marley
17. Wunderkind – Alanis Morisette
18. Feelin’ Love – Paula Cole
19. I can’t seem to make you mine – the clientele
20. What can i do to make you love me – the corrs
21. there she goes – the corrs
22. serpentine – dEUS
23. nine threads – dEUS
24. what we talk about- dEUS
25. the real sugar – dEUS
26. here with me – dido
27. don’t leave home – dido
28. white flag – dido
29. jet sex – ghinzu
30. sweet love – ghinzu
31. black cherry – goldfrapp
32. iris – goo goo dolls
33. slide – goo goo dolls
34. wicked game – chris isaak
35. wasting time – jack johnson
36. string of pearls – glenn miller
37. turn me on – norah jones
38. songbird – eva cassidy
39. if you’re gone – matchbox twenty
40. justify my love – madonna
41. dogs of buenos aires – mirah
42. best days – matt white
43. little light of love – peter gabriel
44. in your eyes – peter gabriel
45. come away with me – norah jones
46. lay lady lay – magnet
47. nobody does it better – 8mm
48. valse d’amelie – amelie soundtrack
49. can’t take my eyes off of you – sinatra
50. summer song – chad and jeremy
51. girl like you – edwin collins
52. i’ll be seeing you -jimmy durante
53. hey there delilah – plain white t’s
54. Beautiful – portishead
55. Roads – portishead
56. Clark gable – postal service
57. be still my heart – postal service
58. take a look at me now – postal service
59. nothing better – postal service
60. i’ve got you under my skin – sinatra
61. shut your eyes – snow patrol
62. open your eyes – snow patrol
63. you’re all i have – snow patrol
64. i turn my camera on – spoon
65. believing is art – spoon
66. tempted – squeeze
67. santaria – sublime
68. you kill me – sukilove
69. girl on the moon – sukilove
70. breathless – the corrs
71. got to let you- the knife
72. je taime je tamais je taimerais
73. kiss me – the cardigans
74. such great heights – the postal service
75. china girl – david bowie
76. collide – howie day
77. this kiss – faith hill
78. i wanna be with you – mandy moore
79. only hope – mandy moore
80. meet virginia – train
81. pretty girl- zita swoon
82. selfish girl – zita swoon
83. thinkin bout you all the time – zita swoon

Glenn Miller & Big Band Orchestrals

Being a girl, i instantaneously fell in love with the feature film The Notebook, and everything to do with it. I found myself engaged in the soundtrack, here’s the listing:

1.	Main Title
2.	Overture
3.	“I’ll Be Seeing You” – Billie Holiday
4.	“Albany Home” – Duke Ellington
5.	Allie Returns
6.	House Blues / The Porch Dance / The Proposal / The Carnival
7.	Noah’s Journey
8.	“Always and Always” – Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
9.	“A String Of Pearls” – Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
10.	On the Lake
11.	“Diga Diga Doo” – Rex Stewart and the Ellingtonians
12.	“One O’clock Jump” – Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
13.	“I’ll Be Seeing You” – Jimmy Durante
14.	Noah’s Last Letter
15.	Our Love Can Do Miracles

I was particularily fond of the big band stuff going on during (in the movie) Allie’s happier years with her new Beau, Lon. So all of the dancing and evenings out was depicted with Glenn Miller’s fantastic String of Pearls.

It was amazing. It’s also good studying music i’ve learned.

Anyway if you’re further interested in the soundtrack, here’s a review:

When it comes to romantic scores, I’m a real pansy. From the beautiful glowing strings of John Barry to the heart-wrenching melodies of Georges Delerue or the melancholy of Ennio Morricone, a good old fashion “love story” score can turn me into a sobbing thirteen year old girl after a viewing of Titanic. Lets just say that my expectations for The Notebook score were kind of high.

Aaron Zigman is new to the film composer scene with John Q being the only other feature film under his belt. After listening to this score, it is apparent that we will be hearing a lot more of his music in the future. The Notebook is beautifully orchestrated with a nice theme thrown into the mix. I do have a problem with the album though: there isn’t enough score! Out of 15 tracks, seven of them go to 1940s oldies. This is all fine and well in the film, and helps capture the spirit of innocent love in the 40s – but I’m a movie score nerd who wants to listen to some film music! That quibble aside, let’s talk about the score…

“Main Title” introduces the main theme with a piano solo. The theme is pleasant but it took me a few listens before I could hum it from memory. To me, “Overture” is the highlight of the album. Zigman creates a lush and sweeping variation of the theme utilizing the full orchestra. This is the kind of music that propels a simple love story into epic mythos. “Allie Returns” opens with a soft flute and string melody later accompanied with the rest of the orchestra to once again create that lush romantic sound. Also introduced in this track are some tragic elements that are later to come in the score. “House Blues / The Porch Dance / The Proposal / The Carnival” opens with a 1940s mono-track sounding swing tune. Around 1:40, the score turns into an all out blue grass country festival. At the 3:20 mark, the music goes back to 40s jazz swing. Not having seen the film yet, I can only assume that Zigman composed this music as background source material.

Tragic elements return in “Noah’s Journey” which begins with a gloomy jazz motif and then moves into the romantic sweeping strings with clarinet. Following that, a poignant solo piano relaxes its way into the piece and then the strings once again take over – very tranquil stuff. Another favorite of mine is “On the Lake” which opens with a grand crescendo of the main theme and slowly moves into slow strings and piano to aid the tragic undertones of the film. “Our Love Can Do Miracles” closes the score with a reprise of the main theme in its lush and sweeping form but in a bittersweet fashion.

I believe that if the album contained more of Aaron Zigman’s score, it would be a near-perfect disc. Unfortunately, the score material that is included isn’t enough to get the big picture. Although the music on the disc is good, it feels drastically underdeveloped. What we get is a little taste; a taste of things to come in the bright future of Aaron Zigman.

- Matt Scheller, Soundtracknet

Some other guys who play similar stuff include: Duke Ellington, Jimmy Dorsey,  Billy May, Sam Butera, larry Clinton, Bunny Berigan

Keepm: A simplified, smart address book.

Well we all know we needed one. I’m glad i found something worth my time. This is useful because, while everyone has an address book in real life, or in their email, or keep all their contacts via myspace or facebook, there are many contacts you know that are OUTSIDE of these selected networks. Combine them all easily with Keepm.

I intentionally tried this one out to make sure it’s as simple and clean as they say. And infact i was impressed. You can even import your contacts from other sources. But you’d be surprised how good it is to fill these out manually even, because then you can recheck your contacts: see who’s moved away, who’s changed their info, who you’re not friends with anymore, etc.

Clean out your contacts and keep your social circle compact and secure. Great way to do it!

Ana’s Digital Painting #1: Uncle and Dad

Here are some of the progression steps i took. Here i am using Art Rage, on rough paper, 800×600, 180 dpi. Pencil mostly, with some paint. CLICK TO SEE FULL PHOTO.

Here’s the beginning of my dad’s portrait with pencil. As you can see i had to intuitively pick the right shades of reddened skin. Try not to be shy with chosing different colors in skin, so long as they are distinctly darker or lighter than your base color. ie the purple i used on the beard and forehead.

Here my dad’s portrait is finished. I’ll now begin on my uncle’s.

I got slightly more brave here. I worked on my uncle’s face relatively faster now that i’ve found skin tones and colors, and noticed more intently the difficult shadows on his face.

Here i have almost the entire two portraits finished; with just his lower jaw undone.

And here is my uncle’s entire face…

Finally, their completed piece. Added some darker blues above them for some balance, and finished up his white shirt with some darks and lights and used the background as the middle ground color.

 

Yay for Deyey!!!

My newest favoritest thing evar! My goodness folks you won’t regret this tool; especially if you’re a creative nut. Now you don’t have to put up with expensive ugly business cards… make your own, your way!!

Deyey allows you to do all of the creative decisions. Change colors and backgrounds, different fonts, upload your own logos and pictures, and save and print them all you like!

Neeed a stylish business card ? Maybe nametags for employees ? Enter Deyey, a feature-rich web-based business card maker that lets you design and print stylish and professional business cards. Extremely easy-to-use and offers lots of free background templates. Ready cards can be stored online, shared with others, printed out etc.

Deyey (pronounced D.I.Y as in “do it yourself”) allows you to create your own business cards choosing from a host of different background graphics, logos, and text. You can also upload your own logo to incorporate into the card’s design. Opening an account and designing your card is free and you also have the ability to share your card with other site members, letting you find new clients and make friends. All cards are saved as high resolution CMYK files to make them printer friendly. Members are allowed up to 100 MB worth of storage for their original designs. Deyey requires Adobe Flash Player 8.0 or above.

Ana’s Collection #3: A Quest to Watch Videos Online. Infinate Sources.

We all watch videos online. No matter what we’re into. Its inevitable now. There’s everything funny, serious, news, tv shows, free previews, trailers, and all that good stuff. Here is a list of where you can get it all.

1. Youtube. DUH. That’s about all i’m gonna say. Free clips online.
2. Free Documentaries – For those who want to get informed.
3. Netflix
4. Joox
5. Peekvid
6. Hulu
7. Break
8. Bedroom Media
9. Veoh
10. Tubezoom – Forum with all movies linked for you.
11. TVcells – multicultural tv
12. Metacafe

Viewbook: Pretty-lookin’, Hassle-Free, Expansive Online Photo Albums

So for those of you who want a clean looking portfolio link, here’s where you go. Welcome to Viewbook. It’s for professional online presentations, photo albums and portfolios.

Viewbook is an online portfolio service that is currently in beta. It gives plenty of good features.

Viewbook is really for professional artists or designers who need portfolios that can showcase their work.

To tell the truth, however, Viewbook is beautiful. Why? Simplicity.

Thats right. Pure simplicity makes it stand out from the other portfolio providers that decorate your clean profile with ads, background images, and all that “good stuff”.

Viewbook doesn’t give you that. It gives you a clean slate, perfect for showing your work.

At first sight, I asked myself, “why do I want this?” But the answers became immediate. The beauty.

Since it is currently in beta, getting a good username like “john” or “henry” isn’t hard. The URL is http://viewbook.com/USERNAME.

Signing up is very simple, but the whole time, I was asking myself, Will this service eventually charge me? The answer is probably yes, since it has NO ads at all.

Once you do get an account, the image uploading service is terrific. Select your files with a traditional file selector, and then hit Upload. In seconds, your photos are up.

There are things that Viewbook calls “presentations”. For Flickr people, thats “sets”, for they pretty much mean the same thing. Also, Viewbook calls “sidebar widgets” (for WordPress people), “pages”. I thought that “pages” was “presentations” at first.

The examples to the right is a presentation. As you can see, thats it. So beautifully simple.

Viewbook = awesome. Thats right. It is so amazingly cool, the homeless would use it!

If you are homeless, that wasn’t an insult.

ColourLovers: Everyone’s Unique Rainbows

Colourlovers.com i’ve used a few years ago, then entirely forgot about it. Recently i remembered of it but for the life of me couldn’t remember the URL. No matter how hard i searched for it, it never came up with a ‘colour social networking site’… because that sounds SO bizarre. Didn’t think there’d be so many ‘color’ fans!

What you do here is chose from a color picker your favorite colors. You get to name them and write about them if they’re significant to you. Also, it’s a great site if you’re a designer and need some color ideas.

COLOURlovers is a website which tries to help you in this matter – sharing color schemes and searching through them, to find a scheme that fits your needs. COLOURlovers isn’t the only site with this purpose (e.g. Color Schemer and kuler), but it is really doing it’s job quite well.

To get started using the site you dont have to do anything, just search or browse all the submitted color schemes, using keywords, hex codes, user-ranking, tags etc. To be sure that you can use all the sites features, you should sign up for a free account, which also makes you capable of favoriting color schemes, commenting them, make friends with other colourlovers etc.

One thing i really do miss, is being able to download the scheme for different applications – you cant download these schemes and store them locally – you can get the HEX and RGB code and manually type them into the application you wish to use it in.

But if you need to find a color scheme, dont miss this site, it’s great. I use this, kuler and color schemer myself, and I still don’t manage to stick with only one of them.

- the undersigned

SIMILAR SITES: Color Palette Generator, colorhunter.com

and, ofcourse, Colors On The Web

See What it looks like Here!