In Times of Sickness

My room is untidy, a side-effect of my sickness. I should be cleaning up this growing mess. No, I should be resting, but I’d prefer jotting down something instead, seeing as how I haven’t had a chance in four days. It would appear as if I’m going through some kind of articulation alienation but I’m just coming off a fever. All the classic symptoms — high fever, body ache, slight headache, hot and cold flashes. It’s been horrid to say the least.

Even though the temperatures went up today, I wrapped myself in a thick quilt to stop the shivering. I can’t even remember what caused the fever, and can only guess that acknowledgement of my current physical state is setting in. The only saving grace is that by the evening, I felt positive enough to get myself off of bed and watch some tv. Not that I want to do it alone. Wish I had the option.

I hope I had a smile in my dresser for days like this.

I was afraid I’d be too bummed to get back to work tomorrow and was just generally filled with teed off, depressed annoyance, and hence was so stirred up to make the following list:

Folks Who Should Watch Out If I Had a Gun:

That guy who’s dating my sister
Muthalik and his gofers
The biggest girl in our office who tells me I’m putting on weight
Maybe one very important person, just for bragging rights
Paris Hilton and her skinny counterpart

Occasionally it feels like music is the only thing that can bring out my sensations again. Most of them have been restored by simple willpower to move on. All else is just routine. So I was deliberating in my head which band/singer to choose for this post. There were quite a few songs/artists I could have chosen from, but my mind was made up as I listened to songs between Tyler Hilton and The Dead Confederate. For those of you who are just showing up to these posts here on EC let me elucidate a bit. As a rule I post about music that I really find irresistible and performers that I root for. While that is true of every post I write here on EC it does seem that most artists I choose to write about could fit into a small division of music.

30 Seconds to Mars’ ‘From Yesterday’ is absolutely sick (I mean that in a good way). You can’t listen to this track and not love it ( and Jared Leto is seriously Emo hot!).

The band is brilliant and they just might be making the best music of their career. I must admit, I’ve listened to this single, off their album titled 'A Beautiful Lie' (2005), at least 10 times in a row and I’m not sick of it. I actually enjoy it quite a bit. This track is excellent and listening to it should give you goose bumps, or at least wake you up.

I am just sitting here wondering if I should just scream out loud or just scream quietly. Nothing much to report really, except the fact that my love life sucks and otherwise work has been uber busy.

While I was working I came across this site that offered annual predictions for zodiac signs and it explicitly told me not to be too sympathetic to others – ‘take care of yourself first'. Maybe I should respect the saying or maybe I am already doing it. You can try your luck out by asking me anything that would require me having to show sympathy.

In this time and era when some artists have all but vanished, others carry on putting out new albums that are, well, let’s just say, less than the standard , and others are on an unending break. It can be hard at times to be keyed up for new music. In fact it can be hard to be thrilled for music in general.

Fortunately for us all, in this current desolate economy, there exists one dazzling and immaculate star that has to date, put out three brilliant slices of music for our enjoyment. The third album by Fiction Plane, titled ‘Left Side of the Brain’ has eleven songs that are each unique pieces of intricate craft work. After the band’s debut album it was apparent that Fiction Plane had some serious talent behind the music and this album literally raises the bar to a ridiculous height. I wouldn’t be surprised if this album made it into my best music-list this time around.
The band is essentially the brainchild of Joe Sumner (lead vocals and bassist), the son of musician Sting. The singer has a true vein of modern indie running through his blood and that with vocals very similar to his father’s - the outcome is unbelievably awesome music that is magnetic and enticing. If you haven’t heard this band, then it’s about time you were introduced to Fiction Plane.
My favorite track hails of the album ‘Left Side of the Brain’ called ‘Two Sisters’. If you like this track, chances are you’ll like most of what this band sounds like.

In the next thirteen days on EC, you can leave a comment that has your favorite track and if the single sounds good then I’ll play your song at ‘EC’s 1 year anniversary post’ on the 21st of May. There might be a goodie bag involved here so it’s definitely worth your while to fill out a little comment and hope you get some free stuff, right? Tell your friends, Evuhleen’s Corner is hitting one.

‘….I’m sitting at work and in front of my cubicle is a conference room that has a big white sign on it that says, ‘All meetings cancelled’. It can only mean one thing, the layoffs are today, and this time our floor’s been “affected”.

It’s odd and funny that some of the people being called into the rooms had just moved into our new building a couple of weeks ago. Guess, they won’t need to worry about waiting in the endless queue for lunch anymore.

I can’t concentrate on my work because this is all, happening in front of my eyes. I'm waiting for who will be called next….C’mon, c’mon! Can we get this over with? Ugh! This is so going to affect my productivity. This is a serious downer. Have to try and analyze rows of data and I cant get my head in the right place.

Someone’s being called into the scary room. Man, that guy used to sit right next to me. He comes out after three hours. He doesn’t walk around to say good bye to his colleagues. Who would? He doesn’t even get to touch his desk to clear it out. He takes his last walk through the hallways. Everyone gathers for whispered conversations. People are afraid to ask who’s gone and who’s going to be next. The dark’s gone in a few minutes. My colleagues call me out for lunch. None of us can eat. No appetite. I’m wondering if I’ve copied all my personal stuff. Yay for pen drives!
When we get back his desk is empty. They’ve taken possession of his computer.’

The event had left me quite shaken! DAMMIT, I need to get out of here! I think I’ve just had it in my head that I have to make it work, because I’m just the kind of person that’s really dedicated and committed to making shit work. Now when I think back on that, it’s so obvious that my inner self was trying to clue me in, but I was totally oblivious at the time. And then I’d wake up and roll over and be like, “Oh, I had the funniest dream!” and tell you about it. Jesus. This lay-off thing was another thing that made me realize that I’ve got no reason to stick around.
It’s safe to say that I’ve gained a few pounds, as I continue eating even after full. The weight is mostly in my face (good) and midsection (bad). Yes, my cheeks have filled out, but now I have a muffin top.
We hit up Tangerine on 100 ft road, Indiranagar, on Saturday for Runa’s birthday- luncheon. Great Continental food. Included on the menu are some great non-alcoholic mock tails. Very yummy.
Spending time with them people I love gets me some of that inner happiness I need.
It’s certainly a bittersweet existence here. Being with friends fills me with wonder, but with Ruan not in town to enjoy this with us, breaks my heart.
The weather today is gorgeous and some gorgeous tunes from The Raconteurs’ second album called ‘Consolers of the Lonely’ are a perfect match for low humidity, sunshine, and even temperatures. This band creates indie sounding rock music that rings out a little too addictive; music that moves along nicely from track to track and is as fun as it is well crafted. I first listened to these boys last year when I had stumbled upon their brilliant single ‘Steady as she goes’. After that, I came across the song ‘Consoler of the lonely’ on the radio, then listened to their entire album and I just had to put this track up (gotta spread the love). The album is really solid, laid back and is hitting shelves soon. Keep your ears open.

Random Thursdays

Things that have been running through my head the past few days:

Ding ding! I need to make it out of this alive.

How’s shit working out for you over there?

Girl I’ve been ignored and I am sopping wet. I don’t even know who I am anymore!

‘Dead Confederate’ gives a soul wrenching performance.

Also I can’t be mortal enemies with dogs.

I think I get along with 23 yr olds a little too well.

FRENCH HIM

What Would Elvis Presley Do?

I’m watching ‘Rachel Getting Married’ and eating wedding cake. What u doing?

Love is dead. Marilyn Manson lives, sadly.

Everybody’s so fucking in love with their own traditions.

This thing is starting to get away from us…

This smoked bacon is amazing.

I’ve been pulled into a sticky situation.

I just heard from my archenemy, who was nice, which makes me SO MAD.

I just realized I have a skeleton in my bag I meant to give you.

I’m most fun.

What were her parents even thinking?

Denim skirt and leather boots! Stockings! Wait, no. Black dress and leather boots. And a feather boa. And a cowboy hat! And that glittered tiara! Oh, and a Batman mask.

You’re in an all day montage!

No, you love this. Shut up and go to sleep.

That’s a good start.

Just call me, Eve.

George Michael must have easily had one of the most hyped albums of the 90’s. Whether you hate his guts now, don’t you forget that you more than likely waited around anxiously for that mushy number ‘Careless whisper’ to be played on radio or your friend’s car. To bring you back to 2009 there have been a lot of covers flitting around the internet for the past few years, which I’m sure you’ve heard, and this past month Seether had the good sense to do the above mentioned track justice and to make it sound like it was born in alternative rock.

This track is great and it has very easily made me forget about the original. On that note I guess I shall end this post. Here’s to hoping you enjoy the track below and the long weekend.

As simple as it may seem to sit around spending time with a bunch of friends, it’s rare to find a day that our schedules match. It’s even rarer to hang out with a group of people I can totally feel comfortable with and just talk my heart out, let alone be able to indulge in the pleasure of discussing about music and other random things. To two good friends, who remind me how good it is to laugh, and help me realize that I don’t do it nearly enough anymore.
Pete and Runa!!! Happy Birthday Kids!

THURSDAY:
My day pretty much sucked. Possibly the worst day ever. I had to be at work and in that time I learned a hundred different ways to curse my company. I was really looking forward to getting out of there and going to the nearest polling booth because the whole voting thing was figuring pretty big on my head. And every minute spent at the office made me feel guilty for not thinking about the elections.
Anyways, so after voting at the local police station, I walked out in the best mood, all cheery at strangers and adding a little skip in my step like I was in the opening scene of a friggin musical. I swung around lampposts and little birds helped me put on my stole and a pup carried my bag home. Then all the lights were dimmed and Gene Kelly started singing and I’ve said too much already but it was so wonderful.

Anyway, for those who voted, good job. I want to kiss you all but I shall hold myself back!

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FRIDAY:

It’s the reserved side of my phase and I can’t seem meet new people or go outside without feeling some kind of apprehension. This time, the occasion presented itself and I couldn’t say no.

I force myself to go.

It was raining too violently to be wearing an off-shoulder top and a crocheted overcoat, but nothing could stop me from making it to the club. I keep thinking to myself that at this time on a Friday evening, I’m usually unwinding. Watching a movie, finishing off a post and putting away my worries until Monday. Instead, I’m heading out. For days I’ve been trying to understand about how cluttered I feel. There have been new occurrences, both nice and unpleasant, leaving me with a combination of exhilaration and discontentment. The most I can say is that it makes sense, how I feel and I can map out every sensation to a reason.

We find an auto. In it, I listen to the rain but I can’t get my head in the right space. Nothing fits. I’m not feeling gloomy or glad or cynical or bouncy.

Stepping off the auto, my anxiety begins to suffocate me.

I can’t breathe. Maybe some alcohol will help scarf up my nervousness. We visit a club. I walk out into the open aired area. It’s raining quite lightly now. There’s shelter by the door. The intense cool air sucks the breath out of my lungs. I quickly light up the cigarette to get rid of it.

Minutes pass. Resentment and acceptance fill my heart, the former because of my oversight, the latter because there isn’t anything I can do about it.

The rest of the night was spent club-hopping, gulping alcohol and meeting ten new people. At the end of it, I just wanted to go home and shower.

I go through these phases — wariness and boldness, assurance and doubt for a purpose. As much as I need steadiness in my life, I need uncertainty. As much as I need bliss, I need distress. Otherwise, life would remain inert and there would be really nothing to type about.

And as much as I enjoy the comfort of a clear and simple life, I need to welcome the unexpected, the unease, and take a pass on the club thing.

Incubus’ new release, ‘Love Hurts’ is part of the album ‘Light Grenades’ which is tough to define in words.
In a recent interview with Incubus, Brandon Boyd expressed his thoughts on the song:

“It’s almost a little bit of a cliché. It is talking about the idea of love and find love and having it be purity and having it not be tainted by your misperceptions, misconceptions, expectations and transcending the sort of more worldly aspects of the love experience.”
The band is famously known for their very distinctive sound which is a combination of heavy metal, punk, hip hop, surf rock, post-grunge, progressive, folk, and space rock and grunge with funk, jazz, and psychedelic. To me this band tends to paint extensive soundtracks for rainy days and lazy afternoons spent contemplating life. There is something here that transcends the simple clichés of radio ready music and the single song download. Here is a depth and maturity, patience, not often found.

I understand that not everyone can check every blog every single day; I know I can’t, but hopefully through this track ‘Love hurts’, I’ve found something everyone can enjoy.

And enjoy it you shall. And really, if this track is on a blog you might as well check it out. Cheers!