i guess science is kind of cool.

What the hell, man. Friday night is boring.
Looking forward to returning to UBC – I think I can survive 4 more days of constant Big Bang Theory intertwined with the occasional 100-page speed-read of the ‘booklist’ I attempted to finish this winter break.

That was a long and poorly structured sentence, I know, I know.

But hey, since I’m bored (as I generally find myself lately), I’ll come up with a preview of my fabled New Years Resolutions, redux 2012.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS (OR SHIT THAT I WILL SAY AND ULTIMATELY NEVER LIVE UP TO) 

1.) Listen to more music. 
Granted, I already listen to a lot of music and update my library extensively on the go, I’d like to sit down and appreciate music. Just pick up and album and do nothing but listen (and maybe read). This year, despite finding many new albums, bands, etc., I haven’t actually sat down and purely enjoyed music very often. I usually just let it go in the background whilst hastily working on my IR analysis or pondering over multi-variable class (RIP MATH200).

2.) Get (more) fit.
I quit smoking. HOORAY! I can’t believe I actually did it – it’s only been 13 days so far but I’m going strong, and will beat it. Granted, this is the first real attempt I’ve made at stopping smoking, I hope I don’t relapse and start sucking on those cancer sticks any time soon (here’s looking at you, exams). Ever since quitting, I’ve gone running every night. It feels amazing; I can feel my lungs again, and fuck, did I ever take them for granted. Here’s to actually sticking to running a lot (maybe not every night) and keeping up this newfound feeling of freedom from nicotine!

3.) Actually do shit off campus. 

I don’t get off campus as often as I should, so here’s to going out more – hopefully not solely to get wasted at some less-than-trashy bar (we can do this, Trevor).

4.) Write a novella.
Why the hell not.

5.) Rock the Casbah, academically.
Going for a 90+ percent average this semester. Can I? Oh hell yes. Will I? Oh hell yes. Really, I need it, though. Med schooooooooooooooool.

6.) Get in to volunteer, and get out of my lowly apartment.
Want: to volunteer at St. Pauls. Need: to get off my lazy ass and actually do it.

Ta da!
Let my impromptu resolution list shock and amaze you.

– K.

Well, I’ve been doing some extra listening and I sorta forgot to listen to a few albums.

Basically, there may or may not be minor changes to my top 10.
You have been warned.

– K.

Thanks to Conor and Patrick, I can’t help but feel obliged to write this second part relatively quickly. You guys are lucky I have a general idea of what should comprise the rest of my list, so let’s have at ‘er.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, my top 10 albums of 2011, part 2. Enjoy!

—

4. The Hunter – Mastodon

Mastodon are veterans at creating radical music infused with fantastic musicianship and overall excellent songwriting. Luckily, The Hunter capitalizes on all of Mastodon’s strength and is presented as an easy-to-appreciate, no-nonsense album that can be listend to easily. From start to finish, the record doesn’t seem to have many flaws – despite ending. I really enjoyed Mastodon’s more ‘pop’ influenced approach in their songwriting; it ended up working, and The Hunter felt complete despite going miles in the opposite direction when compared to Crack the Skye.

3. Heritage – Opeth

No, I am not trolling you. No, I am not crazy. Yes, I put Heritage at number 3. Haters gonna hate. This album, to me, is wonderful. I don’t care that it’s not really Opeth per se, and I don’t care that they’re picking up a bit of Dream Theater syndrome, Heritage is a wonderful throwback to heydays of progressive rock – the good kind of progressive rock (not metal) – with musical themes that put most of today’s music to shame. Yes, Akerfeldt does all the vocals, and there are no growls to be found, but I don’t care. The band pulls together fabulously to create something that may not be Opeth, but sounds good enough to be worthy of Opeth.

2. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming – M83

French electronica – whaaaaaat? “Kamil,” you say, “that doesn’t fit in to the apparent trend you have developed in your eponymous top ten list!” I’m well aware, thanks. But again, hear me out – M83’s newest album (more like magnum opus) is whimsically delightful. Yes, the album is poppy as all hell, but it works with M83’s novel deliverance of music. The lyrics are playful, the content is dream-like, and the musicianship (despite being very digital) is to die for. In fact, this album stopped me for about an hour and a half while I was writing my English paper the night before it was due (needless to say, I did well on it – thanks for caring). It’s easy to pick up and enjoy but not so easy to skip through the tracks or – Darwin forbid – stop listening to it. I may sound like I’m praising the living hell out of this album (of which I am), but I really like it. Really, really like it. Check it out, s’il vous plait?

1. 777 – The Desanctification – Blut Aus Nord

Alas, we come to the end of the rabbit hole – the number 1 spot. And what a surprise, another French music act (not that there’s anything wrong with the French, guys)! This black, industrial cesspool of sheer terror is frightening, disturbing, chilling, and oddly satisfying. Listening to this album gives one more than the creeps – it’s a literal trip into a relentless hell of clanging, digital percussion, so rhythmically perfect that it holds time still and relieves the listener of all hope. I can’t really put how epic this album is into words, so I warrant a listen. In fact, if you don’t listen to it, I’ll hunt you down, throw the album into your face while mercilessly pestering you (like your mom telling you to clean up your room). There is brutal horror to be found in 777, the second part of an expectedly kvlt trilogy by Blut Aus Nord. Needless to say, there could be no other album destined to find itself #1 on my list – and that’s a huge statement. Listen to it, what are you waiting for? You scared?

Honourable Mentions:
Ghost – The Devin Townsend Project
Nord (reissue) – Year of No Light
Helplessness Blues – Fleet Foxes

– K.

Holy crap.
2 days and it’s 2012. Twenty-motherfucking-twelve.
Basically, I’m excited. Not only for the dawn of a new year (hopefully full of success), but for the close of an excellent year in terms of music. There have been so many  good records in 2011 that I feel bad coming up with a top 10 list – it’s almost despicable of me. Alas, some was better than the rest, and therefore, I can vindicate myself by compiling a list – using SCIENCE!

Just kidding. I’ll be using my opinion (ooooooooooooooh). Let us begin!

10. No Help for the Mighty One – SubRosa

This was an interesting surprise. I picked it up based on album art alone (hey, don’t judge), and it turned out to be a fantastic (repeat: fantastic) doom/sludge album with – get it – Black Mountain-esque female vocals. The combination of madly distorted guitar, discordant vocals, and overall chaos is mind-boggling, yet overtly satisfying. There’s even growling (SEW CUTE!!11111). But seriously, get this album. It’s eerie, it’s well produced, it’s sheer awesome – and not restricted to the metalhead.

9. Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will – Mogwai

Another faithful Mogwai release. Admittedly, this album is on my top 10 because a) I love post-rock (read: love) and b) the album is actually good. It’s Mogwai, that’s a given – but it’s a new breed of Mogwai. Infused with more electronic-based music, the album is, to some, a hit or miss. If one is open to Mogwai and their unique blend of experimentation, then I see no harm in grabbing this release. If, for some reason, you despise change (ie. you’re a republican), then don’t bother – it’s not the same Mogwai you’re familiar with.

8. The King of Limbs – Radiohead

A fine release from a fine band. I didn’t know what to expect when Radiohead announced the release of the King of Limbs, nor did I (for some unbeknownst reason) expect anything worth listening. I guess I was just growing tired of Radiohead. But I was wrong, oh so horribly wrong. The album was interesting. Just like with Mogwai’s attempt at experimentation, Radiohead’s newest is a swamp of electronica, dubstep, alternative, and traditional indie. It’s such an amalgamation of sounds that it’s hard to ignore in its entropic beauty. Despite my previous fears, the band settled my nerves and ultimately reminded me why Radiohead is so good – and to paraphrase a popular internet video – “they just don’t give a shit“. In all seriousness, it’s good. Pretty good. Not number 1 good, but it’s… well, you get my gist.

7. Suck It and See – Arctic Monkeys

Well shit. I didn’t even know this album existed for a few months after its release. Did I ever feel like an idiot upon listening, because clearly something happened to the Arctic Monkeys and their sound whilst I was absent-mindedly ignoring their existence. Humbug was a great album because the Monkeys did something I did not expect – they went prog (thanks to Josh Homme’s wonderful production and musical input). It was by far their best album, because it was so different and worked so well (which nobody really expected from the Monkeys – come on, prog?) But Suck It and See is a whole different beast. They’ve changed their sound yet again, this time strolling away from the darkness of Humbug to a softer, 60’s poppy sound that just works. It’s new, but I like it. Despite not being their best work (aka Humbug), it’s certainly leagues better than the debut release we have to love (or hate). I warrant it at least one listen, fans and non-fans alike.

6. Inni – Sigur Ros

“HEY ASSHOLE, THIS ISN’T A NEW ALBUM, IT’S A LIVE ALBUM.”
I know you’re silently yelling that in your mind, but hear me out. I’m well aware that there’s no new content to be found in Inni. But what Sigur Ros does live is so astonishing it delivers on many levels. Inni is part live film and album, and to listen to it without watching the DVD would be a sin. The cinematography combined with the ethereal production is so well done, I found that I could not look away. I’ve seen this movie 7 times now, and only Darwin knows how many times I’ve listened to this album. Watch it, listen to it, I don’t care – just please don’t dismiss Inni because its content is live performance based, you’re missing out on a whole new world of awesome.

5. Paragon of Dissonance – Esoteric

Like album #10 on this list, this isn’t a record solely for the metalheads. In fact, despite being a wicked blend of doom and some black, they’re relatively melodic (sorry, Philip). I, in fact, really enjoyed this double disc release and compared it to a more “complete” variant of Isis (one of the BEST post-metal bands, look ’em up). While the first half of the album is not nearly as strong as the second, the overall package is stimulating and very enjoyable. Metal doesn’t have to be restricted to the metal fanbase – hell, look at me. This is a worthwhile package of droning, carefully plotting melancholy that cannot be avoided.

Part 2 to be uploaded later today.

– K.

As a chemist/mathematician (and ultimately a physicist at heart), I don’t really have much time to appreciate biology and it’s wonders. Hell, I used to love biology. And I mean love. Until I took 3 first year BIO courses and somehow just fell out of love. Regardless, this was a fascinating read, and I recommend it to anybody open to an interesting discussion about evolution and human origins. It’s by Neil Shubin; I haven’t checked out his other works, so I imagine this comment is quite useless.

Nevertheless, here it is (mind you,never judge a book by its cover):

PS: I’m going to try recommending at least one book, fiction or non-fiction, twice a week. Hopefully I’ll develop a wicked readers list (but most likely not).

And I haven’t really done anything. Mind you, it’s great to sit around and relax, doing absolutely nothing, but it does get tiring.

In fact, I’ve been so bored recently that I’ve started learning the material for this coming semester’s courses early – which was a really good idea. Matrix algebra seems rad. Easy to understand (so far, at least). I can’t see it being a buzzkill course. But what do I know – I’m basing my opinion off of the first chapter of the textbook. Smart.

I’m going to try to regularly update this blog, with stuff that may or may not interest you. If I find something cool, I’ll post it. If I’ve got something to say, I’ll post it. If I want to upload a picture of my dog… I’ll fucking post it.

Cheers,
K.